A magnificent larger mahogany and glass astronomical magic lantern slide, made by Carpenter and Westley, London, circa 1890. Its size is approx. 180 mm by 95 mm  (7" by 3 3/4") and approx. 10 mm (1/3") thick.

This twin glass slide (No. 12) features the relative size of the sun viewed from the planets of the solar system. Note that one glass has a small crack, usual for slides of this age, but this does not affect projection.

These rare older scientific slides are meticulously and beautifully hand painted and would have likely been used for astronomical and scientific demonstrations, lessons and lantern shows.

Carpenter and Westley and Newton and Co (named after Sir Isaac) were the two premier magic lantern, slide and scientific apparatus manufacturers of the time, based in London, and right until the end of the Magic Lantern Age in the two decades around the turn of the century.