French Cinematograph-Toy

rare and sought-after boxed ‘Cinématograph-jouet’, a lovely French toy from the early days of the moving images. A handle inside a parallelipedical cardboard box activates the pictures which are assembled on a tape in a continuous loop. A ball placed inside maintains tension on the picture tape. The pictures flip up successively when the handle is rotated giving the illusion of motion. Comes in the extremely rare original fitted cardboard box and with four picture-reels, the original wooden ball, instructions in French and English. The ‘Cinématograph-jouet’ won the golden medal for the best toy in 1900 and even today it never fails to amaze whenever in use.