After the success of the Great Exhibition in 1851, London was eager to host another such exhibition again. The second International Exhibition was held in Paris in 1855, and the third came to London in 1862. Although the 1862 International Exhibition was much grander in scale compared to its predecessor, it failed to achieve the same degree of acclaim. The death of Prince Albert, the figurehead of the Exhibition, in 1861, cast a shadow on the event’s success. The building on Cromwell Road was not as well received as the Crystal Palace, and visitors complained about the over-ornate character of its architecture and the immensity of the exhibition.

This paper peepshow is one of the few in the collection that depict the 1862 International Exhibition. Produced by Dean & Son, a leading children’s movable book publisher, the work represents the Exhibition with generic image, its execution is of fine quality. The peep-hole is fitted with a lens which enhances the illusion of entering another world. In the centre of the back panel, a circular hole lets in extra light to give a clearer view of the cut-out panels. The imagery decreases in size, as it recedes in the distance, effectively heightening the sense of perspective.

Simple paper peepshows such as this one did not feature prominently in Dean & Son’s stock. They more often incorporated peepshow elements to their children’s books (see two other examples in the Gestetner collection: Gestetner 272 and 273). As the paper peepshow declined in popularity in the second half of the nineteenth century, publishers adopted new formats to attract customers.