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Playbills and Programmes
The collection also contains 70 programmes, playbills and circulars, the first of which is dated 1780. The earlier ones relate to shows involving optical illusions or moving pictures. The bulk of this collection, however, is concerned with cinematograph performances between the years 1896-19 10.
Books
The Bioscope, or Dial of Life Explained, by Granville Penn, Esq.
An account of a device to impress man with the passage of time and so inspire him to moral conduct. Contains numerous chronologies.
Pub. Murray, London, 18 14. Philosophy in Sport made Science in Earnest, by John A. Paris.
An illustration of the principles of science by the aid of popular toys and sports. Includes a chapter on the thaumotrope.
3 vols. Pub. Colburn & Bentley, London, 1831.
Letters on Natural Magic, by Sir David Brewster. (The Family Library No. XXXIII.) A popular account of various kinds of allegedly supernatural phenomena, and their scientific explanations. It has some chapters on optics and optical illusions, including notes on the thaumotrope and the magic lantern.
Pub. Murray, London, 1832. (2 copies.)
The Book of Games, or the Schoolboys' Manual of Amusement, Instruction and Health. Author anonymous. A description of games and amusements for boys, including an account of the camera obscura, magic lantern and thaumotrope, the latter being reprinted from Philosopy in Sport (see above).
Pub. London, no date. 71842.
An Elementary Treatise on Optics, by Professor Richard Potter.
A textbook for "Junior University Students"; it contains descriptions of the camera obscura and magic lantern.
Pub. Taylor and Walton, London, 1847.
Sight and Touch : an Attempt to Disprove the Received (or Berkeleian) Theory of Vision, by Thomas K. Abbott, M.A. A treatise on the psychological aspects of sight.
Pub. Longman, London, 1864.
Spectropia : or Surprising Spectral Illusions showing Ghosts Everywhere and of Any Colour, by J. H. Brown. A book of coloured plates, designed to produce "after-images."
Pub. Griffith and Farran, London, 1866.
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