Magic Lantern Slides of the Arctic Voyages of Dr. Elisha Kent Kane

These lantern views were produced by American Stereoscopic Company, and date to circa 1860. They were based on illustrations from Kane's account of the Second Grinnell Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin, with the addition of hand-tinting, and were mounted in heavy wooden frames designed for the large metal "Magic Lanterns" of the day -- the ancestor of the slide projector. The series depicting Kane's voyages consisted of 14 lantern slides, and was number XXI in the "Catalogue of Langenheim's New and Superior Style Magic Lantern Pictures" -- one of the slides still bears a paper label with this information on its top edge.

from the collection of Russell A. Potter

from the collection of Russell A. Potter

With thanks to Douglas W. Wamsley for identifying the manufacturer of the slides, and

to Edward J. Lefkowicz for making the digital images.

This page maintained by Dr. Russell A. Potter. If you have any comments, or information on other historical Arctic materials on the web, feel free to contact me at: rpklc@etal.uri.edu