Lantern Slides: South America

Lantern slides – images or photographs laid on glass and projected by “magic” lantern viewing devices – have their origins in the 17th century and for hundreds of years brought history, geography, and culture to life before radio, television, movies, overhead projectors, and computers. (Information taken from MagicLanternSociety.org.)

The black-and-white lantern slides showcased here are a selection of ten from a larger 600-slide set published by the Keystone View Company and commonly known as the “600 Set”. The set, a combination of lantern slides and stereographs (the precursors to transparencies, obsolete now as well), was designed with classroom instruction in mind. They provided teachers and pupils with a tour of the world of sorts, beginning in the United States and traveling to western and eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. The slides below depict scenes from South America.