Optical Toys from the Belle Epoque By Pasky

An Ornate magic lantern with slide compartments invented by the German maker Ernst Planck, noted toy maker of steam powered toys prior to the early twentieth century. This model dates from 1898, comes with complete set of kaleidoscope plates. The leather cloth covered box is 12 inches high.

Mac Allister, an optician housed in New York invented the parlous kaleidoscope and created magic lanterns. Most of the period Lanterna Magica or Comic slides came from Germany and England. In France Emile Reynaud created in 1877 the praxinoscope theater, a painted wooden box including a set of images of circus theme, landscapes drawings, snow effects. This optical toy was sold in the Bon Marche christmas toy catalog, right image.