A rare 3D portrait of Lon Chaney from The Phantom of the Opera

Universal Pictures, 1925. Silver gelatin photograph, likely a 3D still that was intended for use in Universal mogul Carl Laemmle's promotional stereograph viewer kit that came out prior to release of the film, which allowed the public to view the images in 3D through a special viewing device. In order to sustain the suspense of the upcoming film, Chaney had it written into his contract that no photographs of him unmasked would be released to the public prior to the release of the film; thus, the stereograph viewer kit did not contain a photo of the unmasked Phantom. This rare 3D still may be the only one of its kind in existence.
5 x 8 in.