Cozy Baker, author of "Kaleidoscopes Wonders of Wonder," with some of her kaleidoscope collection.

More information Kaleidoscopes Wonders of Wonder" by Cozy Baker. Published by C & T Publishing PO Box 1456 , Lafayette , CA 94549. $31.45.

Who can't help be fascinated by kaleidoscopes? A couple of twists and colorful prisms of glass create ever-new designs. What began in 1816 as a scientific instrument is today recognized as a serious, collectible art form.

When mid-19th century kaleidoscopes make a rare auction appearance the prices can begin at a modest $650 and go into several thousand dollars.

Sir David Brewster was a scientific genius who created a telescope when he was only 10 years old. As an adult he was a multi-faceted scientist who researched diverse subjects. Of greatest interest to him was the effect of different angles of light on glass. His theory on the polarization of light involved a simple way to calculate the angle at which light must strike a substance for maximum polarization.

Scientifically known as Brewster's Angle, it has been used in the development of lasers, fiber optics and a variety of other optical instruments.

The instrument Brewster invented in 1816 and named the kaleidoscope had become a popular form of entertainment in the Victorian age. But credit American Charles Bush with the invention of the "Parlor Kaleidoscope" with a color wheel that changed the background for the images.

Collector and author Cozy Baker is known as the "First Lady of Kaleidoscopes." Her first book on the subject was written in 1985 and at the same time she curated the first major exhibition of scopes in Washington, D.C. Her collection of more than 800 kaleidoscopes includes antique and contemporary. As founder of the Brewster Society, she has converted her home into a house-museum that begins outside her door with a contemporary kaleidoscope mailbox.

Her new book, "Kaleidoscopes: Wonders of Wonder," not only documents the past history of kaleidoscopes but introduces current artists and their works in dazzling colors.

"With more colors than a rainbow and patterns as numerous as the stars, kaleidoscopes are being fashioned into every conceivable shape and form, from simplistic to stupendous," Baker says. They can range from simple cardboard tubes with metallic mirrors containing plastic bits and pieces to elegant tubes of sterling silver and 14 kt. gold set with rubies and emeralds.

"It is astounding that one basic concept involving a simple set of mirrors, with an eyepiece at one end and an object cell at the other, can produce such a limitless variety of creative ingenuity," Baker points out.

The popularity of the kaleidoscope almost came to an end when other forms of entertainment such as radio and television were invented. They were mainly found in the five and dime stores and sold as toys. In 1946 the Steven Manufacturing Co. (still in business) began making hundreds of different types of kaleidoscopes, along with other toys. These still turn up at flea markets and estate sales where collectors scoop them up for a few dollars.

For adults interested in the kaleidoscope as art, the revival of interest came in the 1970s. Glass blower Bill O'Connor was given a Bush Kaleidoscope to repair. He became so fascinated that he experimented with mineral compounds in his glass-blowing furnaces that resulted in blazing colors. He went on to create an edition of 50. When these O'Connor pieces come to market today, they command thousands of dollars.

These days, kaleidoscopes are used in ways their inventors never dreamed of. Bruce Haney, a stockbroker and financial advisor in Omaha, Neb., had one designed and placed in the ceiling of his dining room. Another collector who is a quilter used the kaleidoscope designs to create quilt motifs.

Scopes are also being rediscovered in other countries. In 1995 Kaleidoscope Mukashi-Kan opened in Tokyo, displaying only kaleidoscopes. They can also be seen in England at The Alexander Collections in Amersham Old Town, Bucks, England.