Mostly hand-colored

We believe this is the largest collection of Magic Lantern Slides, 20,000+, ever offered at public auction in this format. This collection is from the Reading Public Museum and Art Gallery in Reading Pennsylvania. The slides had been stored and out of public view for over 70 years and date from late 19th century to first quarter 20th century, many by known photographers -Rau, Mengel, Reed, Takagi, others. Please note that we could not photograph, list, describe or provide condition reports on all 20,000 slides. Its possible some may be wrongly identified or mixed in with another category or when there is a description, typos and wrong numbers are possible - often numbers hidden under binding or illegible. Lots are mostly sorted by country of origin, ethnicity, industry, specimen, or by significant events. Many are hand-colored. Several lots will contain duplicates. Our descriptions will be very limited and often only by Lot Title. We will not offer returns or refunds on any lot. Key search words - Audobon birds; dinosaurs; pre-historic lands; flowers; industry; American Indian; Eskimo; Artic; pottery; coal diamond gold mining miners; civil war; George Washington; Abraham Lincoln; World War; Revolution; astronomy; fungi; insects; baskets / basket weaving; famous art; famous paintings; famous statues; US states; silk; textiles; Takagi; Rau; Museum; school; Reading School; slide; magic lantern; Decalcomania or Chromolitho Slides; box of transportation slides to include - Pacific RR; attacked by Indians; Wright Bros flight at Kitty Hawk; flight of the first Zepplin 1904; Panama Canal; many others.