Ship Crossing From Dover to Calais, Complex Mechanical Magic Lantern Slide

English, late 19th Century, unsigned, slide shows a steam paddle ship, motions include rotating paddle, rocking ship, moving waves all via cams and a gear, with a moving background from Dover castle to Calais harbour.

Note: These intricately crafted magic lantern slides, characterized by their elaborate design and intricate clockwork mechanisms, were remarkably costly during their era. The internal mechanisms, resembling intricate clocks, and the meticulously hand-painted layers of glass intended to move seamlessly over one another contributed to their high price tag. Consequently, only a select few showmen could afford to acquire such slides, as they were at least thirty-two times more expensive than their simpler counterparts, the single hand-painted slip slides. In certain cases, like the featured slide titled 'The Steamer Crossing from Dover to Calais,' these slides were exclusively produced upon special order and commanded an even higher price.

This slide incorporates a blend of mechanical ingenuity, with various mechanisms to bring the entire scene to life. The animated depiction includes a ship rocking on simulated waves, creating a captivating contra effect with changing backgrounds and passing ships. The central steamer appeares to pitch and toss amidst the rough seas as it navigated from Dover Harbour to Calais. It's noteworthy that these slides, which preceded cinema by a decade, astounded contemporary audiences with their larger-than-life projections on screens. The expense and complexity of these magic lantern slides made them a rare and luxurious spectacle during their time - very few survive today