A man with a vast collection of vintage three-dimensional images says he hopes to share the “masterful art” with as many people as possible.

Collector Paul Conway of Whitehall Lane in Buckhurst Hill has between 2,500 and 3,000 stereographs – 3D photographs – from the 19th and 20th centuries, along with a number of special viewers.

The images, showing subjects like the First World War, life in Japan or humorous Victorian tableau, create an illusion of depth by showing the viewer two photographs taken from different angles at the same time.

Mr Conway, 65, regularly gives presentations on his collection and he hopes to find a suitable new home for it so the next generation can also enjoy it.

The stereograph, he said, is “a masterful art, that had captured a period of history that no written word could replace and no science can reproduce.”

The depth created by the viewing devices and the quality of the photographs gives the images an immersive character, said Mr Conway.

“I get into my time machine and go to Asia at the bottom of my garden,” he said.

“The public is not aware of the quality, because people have not seen them.

“We have very little record so anything we have from that period is sacred.”

Over many years, the thousands of stereographs have been sorted into visual and historical themes, with subjects such as early word travel and the Boer War.

Mr Conway said: “I have been fairly dedicated, anyone who has seen it say they have never seen anything like it.

“The homework is done, I doubt anyone has a collection like it.

“I have kept turning them over until they are all quality.”

Once favoured by the Victorian elite, many people are now unaware of the three-dimensional images.

Mr Conway, who is originally from Ireland, regularly presents his collection at events with partners such as Redbridge Council but he hopes to do this more and eventually pass it on to a new home.

He said: “I have been collecting for 30 years, since I came to England, so I am anxious the collections stays where I found it.

“I have a loyalty to Essex because we have had happy days here.

“We are only here for a finite time and I hope these can have a longer life.

“I would like to see them go somewhere where they are not lost.”