Surfing aimlessly, I found this:

"The making of stereoscopic pictures is one of the most lucrative departments of photography, and the number and variety of subjects everywhere obtainable of the wonders of the world, together with the vast assortment of historical views, and local bits of interest, make a collection of endless extent and beauty."

(A Practical Suggestion for Stereo-Landscape Negatives. Photographic Mosaics; an annual record of photographic progress. 1874, p. 121).

A lot of interesting reading in the back part of the stereocard. Interesting how the description is translated from English to French, German, Spanish, Dutch (I think) and Russian.

UPDATE: Can someone confirm whether c.1874 is correct?