The Phenakistoscope (or more correctly spelled Phenakistiscope) was the first popular device created that could portray a feeling of movement and although intended as a toy, was an important stepping stone in the eventual development of the motion picture.
Invented in 1830 by Belgian Physicist Joseph Plateau, the viewer would place the disk facing a mirror then look through the cut out slits while it was rotating. The effect was a short loop of motion similar to a modern GIF animation.
This lovely little group of original disks all date to around the 1830s-1860s period and represent an interesting mix of disks. There are 13 image disks that vary in size between 11-32 cm as well as a black viewing disk. As you can see from the photos some depict rotating shapes, many depict moving people and two include a word each (‘Vite’ and ‘Giraux’) that is only visible once moving. I don’t have the handle or folder these came in but it is easy to make a replacement.
