Company profile
La Stéréoscopie Universelle (LSU) was a trademark of Rolland et Cie, founded by Paul Rolland[1]. The company was located on Boulevard Saint-Martin 51 in Paris. It was one of the largest manufacturers of glass and paper card stereoviews.
War stereoview portfolio
LSU manufactured paper card stereoviews and glass stereoviews in the 45x107mm and 6x13cm formats.
Estimated amount of war stereoviews
c.3000 titles
Stereoview characteristics
The backbone is formed by the stereoviews with numbers from the 8000 and 9000 series. The first numbers of the 8000 series were published during the war and were subject to censorship[2]. The numbers and titles are written in capitals on a black background. None of the slides have the abbreviation LSU. This might be because the trademark La Stéréoscopie Universelle was introduced by Rolland in the 1920s.
6x13cm glass stereoview published by LSU
The stereoviews from the 2000 series have the abbreviation LSU. The style of printing is less consistent. Many descriptions are stylishly designed and italicised. The “L” of “L.S.U. sometimes underlines the other letters. Titles can be written in black on a white background or in white on a black background.
6x13cm glass stereoview published by LSU
Smaller series with other number ranges are less consistent in style. Many have the abbreviation LSU. The publisher produced special series with specific themes for specific customers. It also manufactured the stereoviews for the Service des Ventes de l’U.N.C. (SDV).
Known Stereographers
A collection of stereoviews in the LSU portfolio was created by lieutenant Alfred Charbonnier. He has been identified through the archives of La Section Photographique de l’Armée. The full story can be read in this article, with courtesy of André Ruiter.
Photographed by Alfred Charbonnier in June 1916
Source: collection La contemporaine, license: public domain
6x13cm stereoview published by La Stéréoscopie Universelle
If you’re aware of any other stereo photographers, please contact us.
Known artefacts
In the Great War in 3D archive:
- Cardboard box for 45x107mm glass stereoviews
- Invoice for 60 45x107mm stereoviews and a stereoscope from 7 December 1938
- Catalog with an overview of battlefields and campaigns
References
- Société en nom collectief Rolland et Cie (La Stéréoscopie Universelle), Archives commerciales de la France, 11 March 1925, p.510 – via gallica.bnf.fr
- Photo-Plait Catalogue Général 1918-1919, p.147
