Magic Lantern Slide by J.W. Black Depicting the Battle of Bull Run
Item #: WR101
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This is a "Majic" Lantern slide depicting a scene of the Battle of Bull Run. These lantern slides have been in use since the 17th century. They got their name from the viewing devices used to project the image . The earliest slides were hand painted images on a glass plate and were used to enhance the telling of stories. In 1848 the first photographic slide was produced by the Langenheim brothers of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These new types of slides were produced by American and British companies. The British made slides measure 3.25" x 3.25", while the American made slides measure 3.25" x 4". The majority of these slides consist of two sheets of glass, one with the image on one side and covered by the second piece of glass. They are usually bound together with black paper tape. Most of these slides were black and white, but some were hand colored. The Americans developed a method for making slides rarely used elsewhere in the world. They created a master drawing, photographed it, then printed slides from the master. This lantern side is of that type, a drawing depicting the mounted Union officer trying to rally retreating Union Infantry behind the Robinson house. The Union soldiers can be seen in great detail. They have begun to gather around the Union officer, still mounted on his horse. Standing beside him is a color bearer, but I can't make out which unit. The scene is filled with action, running men, artillery exploding and casualties flying, wounded and dead scattered around on the field. The slide measures 3 1/4" high and 4" wide. The image has great clarity and great detail. The cardboard border is in good condition on all four edges. A tag that is partially covered by an old inventory tag is printed "J.W. BLACK & CO. 333 Washington St., Boston" on one edge of the slide. This is a cool little piece of photographic as well as Civil War history.
Price Was: 35.00 $21.50 USD
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