A History of Pre-Cinema Volume 2 (and volumes 1 and 3) cover the optical devices used for entertainment and instruction that proliferated before the introduction of cinema. Volume 2 is divided into the following sections: Peepshows; The Panorama; The Diorama; Magic Mirrors; Shadowplay; Magic Lanterns; Pepper's Ghost; Recreative Science; Various Optical Devices.
'This three volume set is a unique fascimile set of rare documents on "Time Based" Visual Media. The books concentrate on items published beforde the spread of cinema and later references to devices of that period. Priority is given to documents that are rare and/or difficult to consult. For this, the set has great value for researchers by giving insight on vintage documents dating back to the period before the dawn of cinematography & cinema' - Early Visual Media.