93

[The Myriopticon, a Historical Panorama of the Rebellion], with its accompanying "Myriopticon Lecture" booklet.

Springfield, MA: Milton Bradley & Co., [1866]
Printed hand-colored box, 5¼ inches tall, 8¼ inches wide, 2¼ inches deep, with long hand-colored paper scroll on two spindles within, a metal handle for turning, rear cover, and pamphlet; lacking illustrated top cover, minor wear to case, some early tape repairs to scroll, most minor, with two closed vertical tears across scroll. Pamphlet: 7, [1] pages, 8 x 4¾ inches; heavy wear, tape repairs, foxing. 

Milton Bradley was only 29 years old but already a successful toy producer when he offered this panorama just before Christmas in 1865. It was advertised in newspapers across New England as early as 9 November 1865. Scenes include the defense of Fort Sumter, the death of Ellsworth, an adaptation of Winslow Homer's famous sharpshooter, contrabands coming into camp, and much more. See Burns and Greene, "The Toys of War," in the New York Times, 27 February 2014.

The pamphlet includes a script for the young owner of this toy, allowing him to present a Barnumesque lecture for his family. It describes each of the 22 panel scenes in order. Illustrated: the United States Colored Troops occupying Charleston, SC in February 1865. 

We have found no mention of two different editions of the Myriopticon, but this one has a different assortment of scenes than the one we've offered before, although the case is identical.

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