A telephonoscope was an early concept of videophone and television, conceptualized in the late 1870's through the 1890's. It was mentioned in various early science fiction works such as Le Vingtième siècle. La vie électrique (The Twentieth Century: The Electrical Life) and other works written by Albert Robida. It was also sketched in various cartoons by George du Maurier as a fictional invention by Thomas Edison including one made on December 9th, 1878 in Punch magazine.[1][2][3]
Robida also forecast the era of television broadcasts, with concept art drawn of a televised opera performance, and of a live battlefield report.