The Book camera was the subject of United States patent no. 470,783 of 15 March 1892. Scovill and Adams' advertised the camera thus: 'The general appearance of this new camera is of three leather covered books encircled by a strap. Attached to this strap is a neat handle by which to carry the camera. No lady or gentleman need have any fear that this parcel will attract attention as a camera for it certainly looks much unlike a camera as anything can, and it is a very striking counterfeit of a parcel of three bona-fide books.
The lens for this ingenious instrument is a rectalinear combination, of the wide-angle variety, with intercahangeable stops and made expressly for this camera, and is superior to anything yet offered at its very low price.
The construction of the shutter is after the leaf pattern, and is located between the lens glasses - a feature not used in ordinary hand cameras. This gives a wider range of angle and does away with the use of a stopper for the lens'.