This paper peepshow is the first known paper peepshow to have been produced in Great Britain. Looking through the peep-hole, one can see a variety of activities taking place in Regent’s Park. The staggered arrangement of the figures deftly avoids the problem of front cut-out panels obscuring the back ones, as happened so often. The figures also diminish in size, the further they are from the front panel, enhancing the illusion of depth.

The publishers were Samuel Williams Fuller and his brother Joseph Carr Fuller, who opened their shop in 1809 to trade as publishers, printsellers and stationers, manufacturers, and artists’ colourmen. Their business became very successful during the Regency and early Victorian period. The vendor Rudolph Ackermann Junior was also operating in the same business as S & J Fuller at this time. Perhaps the established status of the publisher and the vendor explains the high quality of this paper peepshow: the images on the cut-out panels are exceptional in their sharp outlines, vibrant colours, and meticulous details.

Regent’s Park would have been a topical subject matter at this time. Its construction was part of George IV’s scheme for the improvement of London. Led by John Nash, the scheme aimed to transform the London West End into a picturesque urban landscape for rich Londoners. The construction of Regent’s Park and terraces was completed shortly before the publication of this paper peepshow, which would have functioned as a fine rendition of new designs. It was also probably meant to function as a pair with A view of the Thames (Gestetner 194), which has the same title format. The word ‘Areaorama’ was coined by S & J Fuller, who probably took inspiration from the first known paper peepshow, Teleorama No.1 (Gestetner 1), published by Heinrich Friedrich Müller. The reference to Teleorama No. 1 is also obvious from the similar dimension of the works and the layout of the front panel.