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Wood Mount Magic Lantern Glass “Slipping” SlideItem description is keyed to the numbered images above.The numbers and the word WATERMARK do not appear on the actual slide or slides.
Images 1 - 2:The wood-mount measures 7” x 4”. The stationary glass and the sliding glass are both intact and without crack. The sliding glass moves smoothly.Image 3:A crowd mills about in an open field next to a tent flying the Union Jack. Tension builds. Anticipation runs high. What is the crowd awaiting?Image 4:Pulling the sliding glass reveals -The launching of a hot air balloon! And, somewhat dangerously, a simultaneous fireworks display! The balloon has the name GREEN proudly displayed upon it.Charles Green (1785 - 1870) was the foremost United Kingdom balloonist of the 19th century, having made over 500 ascensions by the time of his retirement in 1852, including a 480-mile trip from Vauxhall Gardens in London to Weilberg, Germany.Image 5:The slide was originally sold by Nathan Joseph & Company of 641 Clay Street, San Francisco, California. Nathan Joseph (1832 -1924) was a character even by San Francisco standards (wow, right?), advertising his curio shop as a “free museum” in order to boost foot traffic through the place, and, along with his brothers, selling “souvenir” gold coins that had precious little precious metal in them but could easily be mistaken for a product of the U.S. mint, a fact that still causes confusion to modern numismatists. Nathan survived being struck by those new-fangled automobiles twice, and his “museum” on Clay Street endured two fires, four robberies, and the 1906 quake. Just holding this slide, that once resided in that shop, puts one in touch with a bygone era.This is one of 25 lantern-slide sales ending within 25 minutes of each other. We combine shipping on multiple lots.