Thirty two essays by leading writers in the field present a rich and varied series of a still little known medium, enlivened by over 280 illustrations. The book is organised in four interrelated and overlapping sections, covering the main areas of lantern use, its applications in different cultures, examples of particular use and, finally, the lantern's continued influence after the exaggerated reports of it's 'death' at the end of the nineteenth century. This is an exploration of a fascinating history, but one which emphasises the lantern as a living medium that still plays a role in the culture of today.




Edited by
Richard Crangle, Mervyn Heard
& Ine van Dooren

286pp, 280 illustrations
Paperback 2005
ISBN 0 951044168

The Encyclopaedia of the Magic Lantern is the Society's most ambitious project to date.We have attempted to provide a comprehensive reference source to the history, technology, uses and aesthetics of the optical lantern in its many forms.
The alphabetical entries cover a wide range of subjects: inventors and patentees, makers and merchants, showmen, writers and lecturers; the fascinating variety of styles and shapes of lanterns, with all their delightful and exotic names; the ingenious mechanisms of slides; the organisations that used lanterns for education, propaganda or religious persuasion; and of course the collectors, collections and museums.
The book is not just focused on Europe, you will find much about America and fascinating new insights into lanterns in Japan and Australia.




Edited by David Robinson, Stephen Herbert & Richard Crangle

360pp Hardback 2001
ISBN 0 9510441 5 X

This lavishly illustrated book covers the two hundred and fifty years between the development of the first slide projector and the movie projector. It includes an extensive History of the Magic Lantern by John Barnes and articles on Limelight, Fantasmagoria and many others, by members of the Magic Lantern Society.



Edited by Dennis Crompton, Richard Franklin, & Stephen Herbert.

96 pp., Paperback, 1997.
ISBN 0 9510441 4 1

A comprehensive record of printed illustrations of the magic lantern before 1880, together with the earliest known manuscript representations, dating back to the 15th century. A unique reference source, tracing the evolution of the magic lantern from a quaint magical toy used for frightening the superstitious through to a sophisticated scientific device.



Compiled and introduction by David Robinson.

83pp, 291 illustrations, paperback, 1993.
ISBN 0 9510441 2 5

Uniform in format with the main volume, this new book adds to The Lantern Image a further 88 references to early illustrations of the magic lantern, including reproductions of the vast majority of these. As in the original volume, the illustrations are produced to a very high standard, giving a fascinating insight into the development of the lantern and its uses. Further supplements are envisaged in future as more images come to light.



Compiled by David Robinson.

24pp, 70 illustrations, paperback, 1997.
ISBN 0 9510441 3 3.

A limited edition of bound copies of the Society's New Magic Lantern Journal. The books contain many learned, personal and often humorous articles by members of the society, as well as book reviews and occasional reprints from old publications. Each volume contains three issues of the Journal.

A limited edition of bound copies of the Society's New Magic Lantern Journal. The books contain many learned, personal and often humorous articles by members of the society, as well as book reviews and occasional reprints from old publications. Each volume contains three issues of the Journal.