Lantern Slide

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Prints & Drawings Study Room, room 514a

Lantern slides are viewed by shining light through images printed onto small glass plates. Invented in the 1600s, early slides were painted by hand. The arrival of photography meant that photographs could be printed onto glass slides and projected as a popular form of education and entertainment for large audiences. These are the first photographic records of two early attempts to climb Mount Everest, capturing the hardships that the explorers faced and the awe-inspiring scenery.

Object details

Categories	Photographs The Royal Photographic Society Magic Lantern Shows Projected Images
Object type	Lantern slide
Brief description	Lantern slide, 'Slide 52. Sketch map of the Glaciers', Mount Everest expedition of 1921
Physical description	Square piece of glass edged with black tape showing a drawing of a mountain range of snowy peaks
Dimensions	Slide length: 8.2cm Slide height: 8.2cm Slide depth: 0.4cm
Marks and inscriptions	COPYRIGHT OF "THE MOUNT EVEREST COMMITTEE" / MAKERS: NEWTON & CO. LTD., 43, MUSEUM ST., LONDON, WC.1
Gallery label	Photography Centre 2018-20: Newton & Co. with Mount Everest Committee Lantern Slides depicting 1921 and 1922 Expeditions to Mount Everest Slide 48: Ascending the Rongbuk Valley on the frozen river Slide 52: Sketch map of the Glaciers Slide 53: Colonel Howard Bury and the Party of 1921 Slide 94: Camp on the Lhakpa La 22,500 ft Slide 113: On way to Camp III Slide 136: The highest photograph ever taken 1921–22 Lantern slides are viewed by shining light through images printed onto small glass plates. Invented in the 1600s, early slides were painted by hand. The arrival of photography meant that photographs could be printed onto glass slides and projected as a popular form of education and entertainment for large audiences. These are the first photographic records of two early attempts to climb Mount Everest, capturing the hardships that the explorers faced and the awe-inspiring scenery. You can watch projections of these slides in the ‘Dark Tent’ in Room 99. Lantern slides Museum nos. RPS.1646:2, 19, 23, 30, 40 & 47-2017 The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Art Fund
Credit line	The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund.
Summary	Lantern slides are viewed by shining light through images printed onto small glass plates. Invented in the 1600s, early slides were painted by hand. The arrival of photography meant that photographs could be printed onto glass slides and projected as a popular form of education and entertainment for large audiences. These are the first photographic records of two early attempts to climb Mount Everest, capturing the hardships that the explorers faced and the awe-inspiring scenery.
Associated object	RPS.1646-2017 (Set)
Other numbers	XRG486 - RPS collection - V&A identifier 5678 - RPS identifier - inventory no.
Collection	Department of Photography
Accession number	RPS.1646:23-2017

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Record created	July 26, 2017
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1406505/lantern-slide/

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