A New Kind of Miniature. 293 



only that the picture shall not be misplaced, so as to produce 

 the pseudo-scopic effect, but also that the image which suffers 

 reflection shall be reverted, to compensate for the reversion 

 which takes place when reflexion occurs. 



In addition to portraits destined for morocco cases, and of 

 ordinary minature sizes, much smaller ones are taken and 

 mounted in exceedingly pretty little caskets of fine gold. These 

 form as elegant little shrines as any lover could wish to receive 

 the effigy of his mistress, and far surpass any other mode yet 

 devised of connecting portraiture with ornamental jewellery. 

 The stereoscopic effect is quite as perfect as in the larger pat- 

 terns, and the photographs are so judiciously coloured that their 

 fidelity to nature is in nowise impaired. 



All the casket portraits are viewed as transparencies, the 

 photographs being printed from ordinary negatives on small 

 mica plates which are affixed to the prisms. 



Wehave appended Mr. Swan's rationale of his process with- 

 out comment, and our optical readers can investigate this curious 

 question for themselves. There is not the slightest doubt of the 

 magical relief of the portraits, but we are not quite sure that the 

 effect is entirely dependent upon the causes which Mr. Swan 

 particularises. We recommend all who have an opportunity of 

 going to Charing Cross, to see these portraits for themselves. 

 Few will be contented to leave the studio without making ar- 

 rangements to possess some specimens of the artist's skill, and 

 all must admit that they have never before seen the stereoscopic 

 principle so beautifully carried out. Mr. Swan's is one of those 

 happy inventions in which art and science join, and his labours 

 will be appreciated to the extent that they are known. 



VOL. IV. — NO. IV. 



