Gabriel Grub dissolving view magic lantern show

A charming - and believed complete - set of 17 glass magic lantern slides depicting the story Gabriel Grub, from 'The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton', written by one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian era, Charles Dickens. The story, written in 1836, was published as Chapter 29 of the 'Pickwick Papers' and relates the strange experiences of a church gravedigger (i.e. a 'sexton'), who worked for a small rural village church. Gabriel Grub was described by Dickens as being 'an ill-conditioned, cross-grained, surly fellow – a morose and lonely man, who consorted with nobody but himself'. In the story, Gabriel Grub is digging a grave on Christmas Eve and is visited by goblins, who pull him underground to meet their king.

The set, comprising 17 glass slides in the standard 3¼ x 3¼" format, were published by York & Son of London some time around 1875. The last slide features a cameo role by Frederick York, the founder of the company, taking on the role of the local Mayor. Click here for a short video clip showing what the slides look like when presented as a show.

York & Sons were founded in 1863. Their slides are identifiable by the distinctive logo which features a 'Y' entwined with a serpent. They were one of the few companies that were using life models at the time - i.e. costumed actors posing against elaborate backdrops to illustrate famous works of literature. These series became hugely popular and won the company international acclaim.

NOT FOR SALE.