Visions of Early 20th Century Egypt Through The Magic Lantern

In 1849, German-born Philadelphia daguerreotypists William and Frederick Langenheim popularised the sciopticon “magic lantern” technology that allowed projected images. Lantern slides were a transparent images on glass plates. With the sciopticon and other devices the image was magnified and projected onto a larger surface.

Prior to 1850, most magic lantern slides were hand-painted on glass, or created using a transfer method to reproduce many copies of a single etching or print. In the middle of the 19th century, however, the development of photographic slides created entirely new uses for the magic lantern, from university lectures to amateur family photo shows.

 

Sunset on the Nile

Sunset on the Nile

 

 

Street in Native Quarter, Cairo

Street in Native Quarter, Cairo

Aloe Plant, Esbekiyeh Place, Cairo.

Aloe Plant, Esbekiyeh Place, Cairo.

S10_08_Egypt_Denderah01_SL1

Camels en route to Sakkara.

Camels en route to Sakkara.

S10_08_Egypt_GeneralViews_People004_SL1 S10_08_Egypt_GeneralViews_People010

Fellahin in the Fields, Cairo.

Fellahin in the Fields, Cairo.

S10_08_Egypt_GeneralViews_People016 S10_08_Egypt_GeneralViews_People012 S10_08_Egypt_GeneralViews_People019_SL1 S10_08_Egypt_GeneralViews_People022 S10_08_Egypt_GeneralViews_People024_SL1

Egypt - Bisharin Man, Assuan.

Egypt – Bisharin Man, Assuan.

Donkey Market, Gizeh.

Donkey Market, Gizeh.

Egypt - Egyptian Children, Ramleh.

Egypt – Egyptian Children, Ramleh.

Group of Camels, Cairo.

Group of Camels, Cairo.

Egypt - Bedouins Pasturing Camels, Abusir.

Egypt – Bedouins Pasturing Camels, Abusir.

Egypt - Rear view of Temple, Denderah

Egypt – Rear view of Temple, Denderah

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Abu Simbel. Looking Southward

Abu Simbel. Looking Southward

"Views, Objects: Egypt. Abu Simbel. View 07: Egypt - The Nile from Abu Simbel.". Lantern slide, 3.25 x 4 in (8.25 x 10 cm). Brooklyn Museum, lantern slides

“Views, Objects: Egypt. Abu Simbel. View 07: Egypt – The Nile from Abu Simbel.”. Lantern slide, 3.25 x 4 in (8.25 x 10 cm). Brooklyn Museum, lantern slides

Abu Simbel. Temple of Ramses II. View from the Nile.

Abu Simbel. Temple of Ramses II. View from the Nile.

S10_08_Egypt_AbuSimbel17

Great Temple, Interior, Abu Simbel.

Great Temple, Interior, Abu Simbel.

S10_08_Egypt_AbuSimbel05 S10_08_Egypt_Gizeh03_SL1 S10_08_Egypt_Gizeh05_SL1

Gizeh. View 06: Sphinx and Pyramid.

Gizeh. View 06: Sphinx and Pyramid.

S10_08_Egypt_Gizeh07_SL1 S10_08_Egypt_Luxor01 S10_08_Egypt_Luxor02_SL1 S10_08_Egypt_Karnak01 S10_08_Egypt_Karnak02_SL1 S10_08_Egypt_Karnak03_SL1 S10_08_Egypt_Karnak04

 Partly submerged palms above Nile dam, Upper Egypt 1908, by Stereo-Travel Co.

Partly submerged palms above Nile dam, Upper Egypt
1908, by Stereo-Travel Co.

3 4 6

Donkey and Cart, Kasr-en-Nil

Donkey and Cart, Kasr-en-Nil

Porters, Alexandria

Porters, Alexandria

Donkey Boy, Cairo This slide colored by Joseph Hawkes. Brooklyn Museum Archives

Donkey Boy, Cairo
This slide colored by Joseph Hawkes. Brooklyn Museum Archives

Egypt: Buffalo Market, Gizeh T. H. McAllister, Manufacturing Optician.

Egypt: Buffalo Market, Gizeh
T. H. McAllister, Manufacturing Optician.

Arabian Horse and Sais, Cairo This slide colored by Joseph Hawkes. Hooper

Arabian Horse and Sais, Cairo
This slide colored by Joseph Hawkes. Hooper

Pyramids of Dashur from Sakkara

Pyramids of Dashur from Sakkara

Arabic Window and Native Bazaar, Cair

Arabic Window and Native Bazaar, Cair

ompey’s Pillar, Alexandria T. H. McAllister, Manufacturing Optician. 49 Nassau Street

ompey’s Pillar, Alexandria
T. H. McAllister, Manufacturing Optician. 49 Nassau Street

 

Via: Brooklyn Museum

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