During the reign of Queen Victoria, "magic lanterns" were wildly popular image projection devices.
During the reign of Queen Victoria, "magic lanterns" were wildly popular image projection devices.
Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, University of Exeter
The lanterns projected images painted or photographed on transparent plates, often depicting fairytales, comics, or faraway lands.
The lanterns projected images painted or photographed on transparent plates, often depicting fairytales, comics, or faraway lands.
Victoria Stobo/Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
Thousands of lantern slides -- such as this one of Alice in Wonderland -- were widely available to purchase or hire at the time. <br />
Thousands of lantern slides -- such as this one of Alice in Wonderland -- were widely available to purchase or hire at the time.
Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, University of Exete
Magic lantern shows were particularly popular social events, like this 1858 Christmas lantern show illustrated here.
Magic lantern shows were particularly popular social events, like this 1858 Christmas lantern show illustrated here.
Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, University of Exeter
Lantern slides could be manipulated to produce special effects, like this chromatrope slide which could be wound to produce kaleidoscope patterns.
Lantern slides could be manipulated to produce special effects, like this chromatrope slide which could be wound to produce kaleidoscope patterns.
Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, University of Exeter
Some lanterns had two lenses working in tandem to project images onto the same spot and create the illusion of movement. In this lantern show in 1889, the audience watches rats "run" into a man's open mouth. <br />
Some lanterns had two lenses working in tandem to project images onto the same spot and create the illusion of movement. In this lantern show in 1889, the audience watches rats "run" into a man's open mouth.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The stereoscope was another popular device at the time. Much like a virtual reality headset, when viewers looked into the eyepieces they would perceive two 2D photographs as 3D. <br /><br />This Victorian stereoscopic photograph by Michael Burr is a recreation of a Henry Wallis' painting entitled 'Chatterton,' and was part of an <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tate.org.uk%2Fpress%2Fpress-releases%2Fdr-brian-may-lends-rare-victorian-3d-photographs-tate-britain" target="_blank" target="_blank">exhibition</a> at the Tate Britain in London in 2014.
The stereoscope was another popular device at the time. Much like a virtual reality headset, when viewers looked into the eyepieces they would perceive two 2D photographs as 3D.

This Victorian stereoscopic photograph by Michael Burr is a recreation of a Henry Wallis' painting entitled 'Chatterton,' and was part of an exhibition at the Tate Britain in London in 2014.
BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
In some of the larger stereoscope devices, viewers could insert up to 100 scenes to create their own tours around the world in 3D.
In some of the larger stereoscope devices, viewers could insert up to 100 scenes to create their own tours around the world in 3D.
Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, University of Exeter