Bingo!

Pour le plaisir des yeux ...(although I apologise for the poor images, a new scanner is on it's way). Early 1900's French lotto cards from my private collection. (see the magic lantern in no. 2?)

It's just an illusion

Magic lantern thaumatrope circa 1890

I'm sure you've all seen a kaleidoscope before and I wrote about thaumatropes here but what a a zoetrope or a praxinoscope?

Advertisement from Emile Reynaud's praxinoscope

Inspired by my recent visit to the film museum in Paris and the wonderful exhibition on magic lanterns, painted film and 400 years of cinema, I've been looking for some of examples of optical toys and early forms of animation.

Thaumatrope, circa 1880

Detail of a magic lantern slide - The magic lantern and bear showman, Lapierre, circa 1850

Animation is a fascinating subject. I have a few magic lantern slides and flick books at home but nothing quite as beautiful as these shadow cards

A set of 12 shadow cards, circa 1880

or these mechanical slides

Handpainted mechanical slide

I'd love to start collecting zoetrope and phenakitiscope disks like these (there are some absolutely beautiful ones in the exhibition).

Zoetrope disc, circa 1860

French phenakitiscope disk, A.Giroud, circa 1850

French phenakitiscope disk, A. Giroud, 1850

French phenakitiscope disk, A.Giroud, circa 1850

The V&A's Childhood Museum is a reliable source of information if you're interested in finding out more about early animation techniques and can't get to Paris to see the magic lantern exhibition. All of these examples above came from François Binetruy's Orangerie antique shop in Versailles. François has been collecting items for over 40 years and has acquired some amazing pieces, which he has put on line here. Go and explore his site, it really is a treasure trove for lovers of vintage toys and all things animation-related.

à suivre...