The magic lantern was invented in the 1600s, probably by christiaan huygens, a dutch scientist. For more information on the history of the magic lantern, and the repertoire and schedule of the american magic lantern theater, visit terry borton, amlts showman, is working on a book called cinema before film. Lantern slides come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Schools, universities, the church and many public and private institutions all over the world relied on the lantern for illustrated lectures and demonstrations.
Before the invention of photographs and moving pictures, magic lanterns and glass slides were the primary means to show motion and project images. A device with a name sounding mysterious and romantic. American magiclantern theater film history film history. It was not until 1849, ten years after the invention of photography that.
Magic lantern slides history for sale in uk view 56 ads. Shop forand learn about magic lanterns and lantern slides. The halloween magiclantern show developed by the modernday american magiclantern theater draws upon this long lantern tradition. Shop forand learn aboutmagic lanterns and lantern slides. The origins and development of the magic lantern overview. It uses front projection, an original 1890s biunial two lens magiclantern, and antique slides handpainted by joseph boggs beale. In 1850, two daguerreotypists in philadelphia, william and frederick langenheim, invented a transparent positive image of a photograph in the form of a glass slide that could be projected onto a wall or screen using a magic lantern.
The first lantern slides were created in the 1600s, around 200 years before. From the outset it needs to be stated that more research is required on the many facets of the south african lantern era. The lantern slide has its origins in 17th century optical viewing devices which came to be known as magic lanterns. The magic lantern is one of the most important inventions of our history. In this article, the author briefly reflects on the history of the lantern slide as well as south african themed magic lantern slides. Anyway, i decided to downsize my collection and opened an ebay shop to start the task. I picked up my very small stack of 10 lantern slides from a garage sale where they had been stored in the bottom of an old backyard shed in cottage country. Magic lantern slides brought the world to life in pictures. Lucerna is an online resource on the magic lantern, an early slide projector invented in the 17th century. Based on the collection of the museum augenblick, ruth baumer m. Greenwoods magic lantern slide collection greenwood. Sep 14, 2018 still, the magic lantern didnt completely disappear. Eventually there were enough interested people to consider starting a magic lantern society.
Before there was streaming, the victorians had magic lanterns. The first slides were made by painting images on to small pieces of glass and people viewed the slides by shinning candlelight or gaslight through them. These objects made up of thin layers of emulsion trapped between. There is still some work to be done on this collection.
Before there was powerpoint and data projectors, before even 35mm kodak slides which now too have fallen into disuse, there were magic lantern slides. While the earliest photographic methods required an intimate viewership, the projection capabilities of the magic lantern allowed for a sizable audience. It uses front projection, an original 1890s biunial two lens magic lantern, and antique slides handpainted by joseph boggs beale. Magic lantern slide projector and slides, late1800searly. Magic lanterns and lantern slides collectors weekly. Slides for the magic or optical lantern were a major tool for knowledge transfer in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is still used today, both in its original form and through direct descendants like the modern data projector. When photography emerged in the mid1800s, it was a natural fit for the magic lantern technology. The history of art departments visual resources centre at the university of oxford holds, among other visual material, some 60,000 examples of late 19 th and early 20 thcentury photography in the form of magic lantern slides collected for the teaching of art history. It was the earliest form of slide projector and has a long and fascinating history. The french circus slide in the middle depict a typical late lapierre example which often show a green paper border. The victoria and albert museum chronicles the history of magic lantern slides while sharing their collection in the video above.
Digitizing lantern slides can be tricky not only for getting the color right but also for avoiding newtons rings a distortion that looks like moire silk caused by. For more than 350 years the magic lantern has represented and fed into every aspect of human life and every part of the world. Natural history and comic slides and a plymouthbased singer and comedians 1864 notice of his selection of views. It also gives you a wonderful opportunity to explore our heritage, our history.
Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. The magic lantern was used to illustrate lectures, concerts, pantomimes and other forms of theatre. Lantern slides would have been shown using a magic lantern projector. Various terms can be found across history, disciplines, intended audiences or for descriptions of specific formats of slides and types of lanterns. Before there was streaming, the victorians had magic. As a result, his grandchildren were instructed with a heavy dose of astronomy magic lantern slides and natural history slides and microscopic creature slides. The first lantern slides were created in the 1600s, around 200 years before photography was invented and they provided spectacular entertainment and education in the way that cinema does today. Photographic lantern slides took off in the late 19th century as a popular form of entertainment, and in addition to educators, missionaries and salespeople soon began to use magic lantern slides to visually entice the audience while educating, spreading their messages, and peddling their wares. A hand painted image or landscape on a piece of glass would come to life when it was used in a device called the magic. The earliest slides for magic lanterns consisted of handpainted images on glass, projected by itinerant showmen to amuse their audiences. As a result, his grandchildren were instructed with a heavy dose of astronomy magiclantern slides and natural history slides and. For centuries it was a source of pleasure for young and old, poor and rich.
Christianity themed magic lantern slides are relatively common. Understanding the magic lantern smithsonian institution. They can be recognized by the simple paint areas applied. Lucerna is an online resource on the magic lantern, an early slide projector invented in the 17th century for more than 350 years the magic lantern has represented and fed into every aspect of human life and every part of the world.
Jun 06, 2017 christianity themed magic lantern slides are relatively common. Lantern slides created a new way to view both commercial and amateur photography. Since its invention in the midnineteenth century, the lantern slide, also known as a magic lantern slide, has played a pivotal role in the history of projected images. All major credit cards are accepted through secure payment processor paypal. The terms lantern slides and magic lantern are used here as umbrella terms for describing objects related to the historical art of projection. In the united states, the greatest impact of lantern slides was as a didactic tool and a form of entertainment. It is a great place to begin to appreciate magic lantern slides and all of the time and effort fiora put into this project. Prior to the introduction of the bright incandescent bulb, light sources for the projectors such as candles, kerosene and limelight became very dangerous. Magic lanterns primus magic lantern slides catalogue. These catalogs can help archivists and collectors to identify magic lanterns and lantern slides and they also enrich knowledge of the development of.
History deserves to be remembered recommended for you 16. Several christian denominations had their own magic lantern departments, producing huge quantities of slides illustrating bible stories, moral lessons and hymns. Antique slide projector in collectible magic lantern. From the 17th century different manufacturers and countries engaged in fierce competition to establish their own sizes as the standard. The magic lantern was invented in the 1650s, probably by christiaan huygens, a dutch scientist, and was originally lit by candles.
Nov 06, 2018 magic lantern slides brought the world to life in pictures. The name magic lantern comes from the experience of the early audiences who saw devils and angels mysteriously appear and disappear on walls. Lantern slides for sale in my lifetime, i have acquired around 250,000 magic lantern slides. Masonic magic lantern slides to the entered apprentice degree of masonry, blue lodges, order of the eastern star, knights of pythias, magic lantern series. Collectible magic lantern glass slides for sale ebay. A history of the magic lantern the magic lantern society. Antique slide projector in collectible magic lantern glass. While the company focused on fraternal regalia, by the late 1800s, their catalogs advertised magic lanterns and slides. Popular magic lantern presentations included henry langon childes dissolving views, his chromatrope, phantasmagoria and mechanical slides. Get the best deals on collectible magic lantern glass slides when you shop the largest online selection at. The eyes and mouth are both painted on separate, movable plates, creating the illusion of an animated tiger when the slide is projected. American magiclantern theater american magiclantern. Magic lantern and lantern slide distribution catalogs are rare items and mostly held in private collections. Cleaning and scanning lantern slides artifact photography.
Digitizing lantern slides can be tricky not only for getting the color right but also for avoiding newtons rings a distortion that looks like moire silk caused by the two layers of glass of the slide. Digitizing magic lantern slides association for library. Victorian magiclantern shows and americas first great screen artist, joseph boggs beale. We ship to your ebay or paypal address from delivered anywhere in uk. Clearly, this is way beyond a hobby, pastime or even passion and might be a medical condition of some sort. Grandfather carter was a chemist and respected philadelphia scientist. Magic lanterns, also known as optical lanterns, provided one of the most popular forms of. Ramms collection of glass lantern slides contains around 4,500 items and provides a fascinating insight into edwardian life.
Dec 18, 2018 while the company focused on fraternal regalia, by the late 1800s, their catalogs advertised magic lanterns and slides. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The magic of lantern slides miss white at the piano, early 1800s. The stories are illustrated with slides that change about every 30 seconds and the art work is truly extraordinary. The earliest slides for magic lanterns consisted of handpainted images on glass, projected by itinerant showmen telling stories about the images that were projected. Utushie is a type of magic lantern show that became popular in japan in the 19th century.
The above and two subsequent types of toy magic lantern slides always have a protective paper or tape border to prevent children from cutting in their hands. The historic camera club international lantern slides. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Get the best deals on antique slide projector in collectible magic lantern glass slides when you shop the largest online selection at. In fact, one society member is still pioneering new adaptations looking to replicate that authentic look which will show off the slides to the best effect. Used in intimate parlors as a childrens toy as well as in lecture halls and vaudeville theaters, the spectral, glowing images of the lantern slide could transport viewers to distant lands, conjure ghosts and spirits, or simply amuse with silly jokes. The halloween magic lantern show developed by the modernday american magic lantern theater draws upon this long lantern tradition. Payment must be received within 7 business days of auction closing. Magic lantern slides the magic lantern slide collection.
Magiclantern showman terry borton, the showman for the american magiclantern theater, with a biunial, or twolens magic lantern. The first lantern slides were created in the 1600s, around 200 years before photography was invented and they provided spectacular. With the advent of photography, better optics, and the electric light, by the late 1800s, lantern slides were cutting edge mediaprojecting an image large enough a whole classroom if not auditorium could see. Tens of thousands still exist even though they were produced over one hundred years ago. In my lifetime, i have acquired around 250,000 magic lantern slides. A source of knowledge too for students and scientists.
Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable prices. Latent south african visual history magic lantern slides. The set of magic lantern images relevant to the third degree master mason has a basic 16 slides in it, numbered 22 through 37. Magic lantern glass slide ct milligan, magic lantern manufrno. Christian magic lantern slides magic lantern world. During the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, every local post of any fraternal lodge, from the masons and oddfellows to the knights of pythias, owned a magic lantern and a collection of glass magiclantern slides. When the wages for 1896 are considered, the magic lantern can be seen to be a very expensive item for a lodge to acquire. Many manufacturers also invented ingenious mechanisms to create movement or animation in the projected image.
The earliest films might not have been made until the mid 1890s but that didnt stop people in victorian britain enjoying all sorts of. He was once on a city committee to investigate perpetual motion. According to a press release, the slide projectors popularized during the mid20th century trace their origins to the victorian device. Lantern slides first originated in the 17 th century and consisted of handpainted illustrations on glass that were projected with light to be used as a form of storytelling. The lantern slide is a positive transparency that can be projected. At first, the lantern is an optical projection device with his own reason for existence. See more ideas about lanterns, antique cameras and vintage cameras. In many film history books the magic lantern is labeled as the forerunner of cinema, this however is only partly true. More than twentyfive hundred years ago, intellectuals from many cultures began to experiment with image projection in their attempts to understand the relationship between the mechanics of the human eye and the physical principles of light. A 19th century glass magic lantern slide of a tiger.
1294 325 884 1420 1566 268 789 264 426 91 513 994 409 1470 1513 80 221 198 129 1235 774 1172 1567 621 779 1306 275 425 296 610 664 1320 1427 661 468 1246 826