The above image exist in several different versions, man with or withouth a beard, published in various popular scientific books. This version was published in: "Instructions Pratique sur l'emploi des Appareils de Projection; Lanternes Magique, Fantasmagorie, Polyoramas Appareils pour l'einseignement et pour les agrandissement" By A. Molteni / Constructeur d'instruments d'Optique, de Physique, de Mathématiques et de Marine.
Quatrième édition, Paris, 44, Rue Du Château-d' Eau (No date)

The technique of back-projection on a translucent screen is clearly demonstrated in this and many other images. The image shows the typical settings for a Phantasmagoria room; Fantascope - Screen - Public.
The first group of four images comes, resp., from Robertson (1763 - 1837) Brevet d'Invention and Memoires. Others from popular books, scientific instrument catalogues, magazines and projection manuals. A few of the images depicted on this page are details taken from a Pepper's Ghost projection setting where, withouth doubt, a fantascope was used as a lightsource to illuminate the ghost actor beneath the stage.

Download a bibliography for the Moisse Fantascope in PDF format
 

The drawing on the left, made by Rik Soenen, was my very first contact with the "Moisse Fantascope". It also illustrate the importance of collecting "ephemera" in a specific domain. The latter can help in tracing information or identification of rare and less rare items. This page depicts all Fantascope image ephemera I found during the past years. Most illustrations where found in old catalogues, magazines and books. Several of them where published in more recent publications. An interesting 19th. Century reference source is withouth doubt the French Magazine "Magasin Pittoresque" founded in 1833 and available online via Gallica. This magazine is of interest to most collecting domains, since it was a popular publication that published in many various fields. The first public announcement of the invention of photography appeared in the Magasin Pittoresque 1839 edition. A huge quantity of suchlike and more specific publications are a wonderful research field. Please, e-mail me know if you should encounter other Fantascope images in catalogues, books or manuals.

This last image is perhaps the most reproduced, and therefore, best known Fantasmagoria (Phantasmagoria) show evocation.
It was published in the "Magasin Pittoresque" 1849. (Not 1845, as often wrongly datet in literature)
A less known article on Phantasmagoria from the same source is found in the 1869 edition.