Antique Glass Lantern Slide: Captain Cook Explorer GWW G.W.W Historical Portrait For Sale

• Type: Magic Lantern Slide

• Subject: Captain James Cook, Explorer / Historical Portrait

• Maker / Publisher: G. W. Wilson (G.W.W. Aberdeen)

• Series: Historical Portraits

• Format: Standard Square Glass Lantern Slide (3.25" x 3.25")

• Production Technique: Monochrome Engraving / Photo-Litho on Glass

• Time Period: Late Victorian (c. 1880s–1890s)

• Features: Printed Series Label, Hand-Inscribed Title, Original Taped Border

• Region of Origin: Aberdeen, Scotland / United Kingdom

ANTIQUE GLASS MAGIC LANTERN SLIDE

Captain James Cook, Explorer — G. W. Wilson "Historical Portraits" Series (c. 1880s)

An authentic original late 19th-century black-and-white glass lantern slide produced by renowned Scottish photographic firm G. W. Wilson & Co. (G.W.W.) of Aberdeen.

The slide depicts a fine portrait engraving of British navigator and explorer Captain James Cook (1728–1779) in naval uniform, based on the famous 18th-century portrait by Nathaniel Dance-Holland.

• Inscribed Title: "Captain Cook, Explorer." in elegant copperplate script along the top paper mount.

• Series Label: Printed label along the lower border reading "Historical Portraits. G. W. W."

• Image Format: Crisp monochrome (black & white) portrait engraving printed directly onto glass.

• Glass Condition: Excellent antique condition; cover glass is intact without cracks or chips.

• Paper Binding & Mounts: Original black paper binding tape and mount borders remain complete and firmly attached.

• Image Clarity: Clear, sharp detail with strong tonal contrast under direct light.

G. W. Wilson was the official Photographer to Her Majesty Queen Victoria in Scotland. His Aberdeen studio produced top-quality educational and historical lantern slides for public lectures throughout the late Victorian era. Slides featuring major maritime explorers like Captain Cook remain highly collectable pieces of 19th-century projection history.