Magic lantern slide set 'Esmeralda'

A complete set of hand coloured magic lantern slides, entitled 'Esmeralda', 15 slides. Manufactured by G M Mason, c. 1900. From a collection of life model magic lantern slides, previously the lending library of Riley Brothers of Bradford.

Life model slides are photographic magic lantern slides in which costumed models are posed in scenes or locations to illustrate narratives, songs and other texts. They were produced commercially between the 1870s and the First World War. Typical subjects included temperance tales of alcoholism and other social vices, popular songs, recitations, comic subjects and religious services. They would come in sets which could be anything from 2 to 60 but averaged 12.