“A single long strip of glass, usually mounted in a wood frame.

The subject may be represented as a continuous scene, occupying the whole length of the glass; or as a succession of individual subjects, either related to each other in theme, or otherwise.

When the subject is continuous, the slide is slowly passed through the lantern without interruption. But where individual subjects are represented, the slide is passed through the lantern with intervals of rest, coinciding with each subject.

Probably first introduced during the eighteenth century. Rarely produced after about 1880, except for the juvenile market.

In the earliest examples, the glass is often uneven and flawed by small air bubbles.

The subjects are almost always hand-painted. Those for the Phantasmagoria have black opaque grounds, and were first introduced shortly after 1820.”