IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PRODUCING OPTICAL ILLUSIONS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Barnes Linnett, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Printer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MEANS OF PRODUCING OPTICAL ILLUSIONS."
Scaled the 5th September 1868, and dated the 18th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Barnes Linnett
at the Office of tlic Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th March 1868.
I, JOHN BARNES LINNETT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Printer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF PRODUCING OPTICAL ILLUSIONS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described
in the means of producing optical illusions by presenting to the eye
in rapid succession a series of pictures of objects representing the
objects in the several successive positions they occupy when in motion,
and thereby producing the impression of moving objects. I print or

page_text: otherwise produce on separate leaves of paper or card or other flexible
material a series of different pictures, in which the object or portion
of the object which it is intended shall have the appearance of moving
is represented in different positions, for example, if the illusion to
be produced is that of a windmill with moving sails, I make the
stationary parts of the mill the same in all the leaves or cards, but
the position of the sails is different in each. On one of the leaves two
of the sails are represented in vertical and two in horizontal positions;
on another the sails are represented in a slightly changed position,
that is, at a small angle from the first-described position; on a third
the position of the sails is still further changed, and so on with respect
to the rest, the number of leaves being sufficient to give the successive
positions through a quarter revolution. The duplication of the same
series will give the necessary positions of the sails in a half revolution,
and by further repetitions the positions proper to any number of
rotations may be obtained. These leaves or cards are secured together
at or near one edge so as to bind them together into a series similar
to the leaves of a book, the leaves being so arranged that they follow
one another in the order in which successive positions of the sails are
represented. By holding the series in one hand and with the finger
and thumb of the other causing the leaves rapidly to turn over, the
several pictures are presented in rapid succession to the eye, and the
picture of a windmill with sails in motion is produced. The appearance
of motion in any other object may be given in a manner similar to
that described with respect to a windmill. The opposite sides of the
leaves may have different pictures on them, so that one book or series
of leaves will present one moving picture when the leaves are looked
at on one side, and another moving picture when they are looked at
on the other side.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 3
filed by the said John Barnes Linnett, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th September 1868.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Barnes Linnett, Her special
licence that I, the said John Barnes Linnett, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Barnes
Linnett, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and; vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS
OF PRODUCING OPTICAL ILLUSION," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Barnes Liunett,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Barnes Linnett, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described
in the means of producing optical illusions by presenting to the eye
in rapid succession a series of pictures of objects representing the
objects in the several successive positions they occupy when in
motion, and thereby producing the impression of moving objects.
In carrying my Invention into effect, I print, photograph, or
otherwise produce on separate leaves of paper or card or other flexible
material a series of different pictures, in which the object or portion
of the object which it is intended shall have the appearance of
moving is represented in different positions. For example, if the
illusion to be produced is that of a windmill with moving sails I
make the stationary parts of the mill the same in all the leaves or
cards, but the position of the sails is different in each. On one of
the leaves two of the sails are represented in vertical and two in

page_text: horizontal positions; on another the sails are represented in a slightly
changed position, that is, at a small angle from the first described
position; on a third the position of the sails is still further changed
and so on with respect to the rest, the number of leaves being
sufficient to give the successive positions through a quarter revolution.
Figure 1 of the Drawing represents a series of leaves arranged in
the order I have described, from an examination of which it will be
seen that the position of the saiis of the mill in each of the leaves is
different from that in the others. The duplication of the series of leaves
represented will give the necessary positions of the sails in a half
revolution, and by further repetitions the positions proper to any
number of rotations may be obtained. These leaves or cards are
secured together into a series similar to the leaves of a book, the
leaves being so arranged that they follow one another in the order
in which successive positions of the sails are represented.
Figure 2 represents a series of leaves or cards bound together after
the manner of the leaves of a book. In the said Figure 2 the leaves
or cards are secured together by metal eyelets a, a, but other means
of binding or securing the leaves or cards together may be employed.
I make perforations at at the edges of the series of leaves or cards
for the purpose of facilitating the turning over of the said leaves or
cards. By holding the book or series of leaves or cards, Figure 2, in
one hand, and with the finger and thumb of the other hand causing
the leaves rapidly to turn over, the several pictures are presented
in rapid succession to the eye, and the picture of a windmill with sails
in motion is produced.
Figure illustrates the manner in which the book or series of
leaves or cards are turned over for the purpose of producing the
optical illusion described. The appearance of motion in any other
object may be given in a manner similar to that described with
respect to a windmill. The opposite sides of the leaves or cards may
have different pictures on them, so that one book or series of leaves
or cards will present one moving picture when the leaves or cards
are looked at on one side, and another moving picture when they
are looked at on the other side.
Although I have only described the turning over of the leaves,
sheets, or cards as effected by hand, yet I do not limit myself thereto,

page_text: as the said leaves, sheets, or cards may be turned over by mechanical
means with the same effect.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described and
illustrated, as the same may be varied without departing from the
nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention the improve-
ments in the means of producing optical illusions herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, that is to
say, printing or otherwise producing on one or both sides of separate
leaves, sheets, or cards of paper or other flexible material a series of
different pictures, in which the object or objects or a portion or
portions of the object or objects which it is intended shall have the
appearance of moving are represented in different positions, and
binding or securing the said leaves, sheets, or cards together at or
near one edge, so that by turning over the said leaves, sheets, or
cards rapidly, the object or objects or a portion or portions thereof
in their several positions are presented in rapid succession to the
eye and the picture of a moving object or moving objects thereby
produced.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Barnes Linnett, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight.
25
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
JOHN BARNES LINNETT. (L.S.)