The magic lantern is an early type of image projector and was one of the first devices that allowed images to be projected onto a surface, It played an important role in the development of modern projection technology.

The earliest known reference to a magic lantern comes from a Dutch scientist named Christiaan Huygens, who described a simple projection device in 1659. The first true magic lantern, however, was developed by a German Jesuit priest named Athanasius Kircher in the 1670s. Kircher's lantern used a concave mirror to reflect light from a candle onto a glass slide that contained an image. The image was then projected onto a wall or screen.

Over the next century, the magic lantern became increasingly popular as a form of entertainment and education. Lantern shows were held in public places like theatres and town squares, and lanterns were used to illustrate lectures and scientific more...

15 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Magic lantern slides & glass plate Negatives: a collection of…

Vintage Australian Scenes: Magic Lantern Slides Collection (1900-1920s)

Magic lantern slides & glass plate Negatives: a collection of vintage slides of Australian scenes including visits to the New South Wales south coast, Northern Beaches, Coogee, Manly, Bondi, Cooks river, Bexley, Federation Celebrations, arrival of Lord…

Eleven antique magic lantern slides 15 cm x 4 cm

Collection of Eleven Antique Magic Lantern Slides

Eleven antique magic lantern slides 15 cm x 4 cm

An interesting set of 65 magic lantern slides depicting the…

Mallory Everest Expedition 1924: Captivating Magic Lantern Slides

An interesting set of 65 magic lantern slides depicting the Mallory Everest expedition in 1924 the original photographs were taken by Captain John Knowle., Featuring images of the first climbing party, Tibetan people and dancers, base camp, Mt Everest and…

19th century photographer unknown two full glass plate…

Maori Groups in Whare and Marae

19th century photographer unknown two full glass plate negatives of a Maori figure groups in whare and in front of a marae, one numbered 94 and with 'New Zealand government tourist department protected' stamp with 'No.3643 7.1.03 25.3 x 30.4 cm the other…

Collection of rare early C. 1900 glass lantern slides. Glass;…

Early 1900s Lindt Portrait Glass Lantern Slide Collection

Collection of rare early C. 1900 glass lantern slides. Glass; paper; ink. Collection of 10 photographic glass magic lantern slides featuring a portrait by John William Lindt. Approx length 8 x 8 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, New South Wales.

Collection of Magic Lantern slides, Japanese subjects

Japanese Magic: Lantern Slides Collection

Collection of Magic Lantern slides, Japanese subjects

Set of antique magic lantern slides, series of West Cornwall, UK

Antique Magic Lantern Slides: West Cornwall Series

Set of antique magic lantern slides, series of West Cornwall, UK

New Zealand: Maori glass plate negatives including Maggie…

Maori Glass Plate Negatives with Chiefs and Maggie Papakura

New Zealand: Maori glass plate negatives including Maggie Papakura & two Maori chiefs. (Qty 3)

Magic Lantern slides in Bakelite box

Bakelite Box of Magic Lantern Slides

Magic Lantern slides in Bakelite box

Early tinted photograph & 2 Magic lantern slides. Photo by…

Tinted Photo & 2 Slides: Schloss and Winter House

Early tinted photograph & 2 Magic lantern slides. Photo by Sidney Riley Studios, Pitt St, Sydney. Slides of schloss; & house in winter, 20 x 14 cm, 7.5 cm (each)

Burton Brothers (Alfred Burton), Dunedin Three images from the…

King Country & Taranaki: Burton Brothers' Glass Plate Negatives

Burton Brothers (Alfred Burton), Dunedin Three images from the King Country & Taranaki, May 1885: 'Rane' at Taumaranui ? King Country; The Fair 'Orini' at Ti Eke ? King Country; Tuohu (a Maori Belle in ball dress), Parihaka. All black and white contact…

John McGarrigle (American Photographic Company) Two studio…

Maori Women with Traditional Tattoos, 1870

John McGarrigle (American Photographic Company) Two studio portraits of Maori women, one with 'whaka' tattoo on one arm, the other with lip and chin moko. Sepia toned contact prints from the original glass plate negatives in the National Museum, c. 1870

John McGarrigle (American Photographic Company) Two full length…

Maori Men in Photographic Studios, c. 1870

John McGarrigle (American Photographic Company) Two full length portraits of Maori men in photographic studio environments. Sepia toned contact prints from the original glass plate negatives in the National Museum, c. 1870

Box magic lantern slides. Real photo London scenes c.1914. Good…

London Scenes Magic Lantern Slides c.1914

Box magic lantern slides. Real photo London scenes c.1914. Good condition. Approx. 40 in total

Cased 43 World War I magic lantern slides. Scenes of shelled…

WWI Devastation: 43 Magic Lantern Slides

Cased 43 World War I magic lantern slides. Scenes of shelled churches, stations, tanks etc