Spin the phenakistiscope disk at a mirror, peek through the slits from behind, and watch the kitties leap about and the donkey's ears flap. Want an idea of how this works? Here's a very short video.
-- Optical Toy, Phenakistiscope Disc with Cats and Donkey, ca. 1830; hand-colored lithograph on paperboard; H x diam.: 25 × 25 cm (9 13/16 × 9 13/16 in.); Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. John Innes Kane; 1948-124-3. Image: collections.cooperhewitt.org.
public domain This is a "Mimick, or Gethulian-Dog," as recorded by Edward Topsell in his natural history of c. 1600. It's described as "being apt to imitate all things it seeth, for which cause some have thought that it was conceived by an Ape; but in face sharpe and black like a Hedge-hog, having a short recurved body; very long legs, shaggie hair, and a short tail..." Apparently in ancient Egypt this sort of dog was taught all manner of tricks. Whatever breed could this have been? Topsell, Edward, 1572-1625?. The History of Four-footed Beasts And Serpents... The whole rev., cor. and inl. with the addition of two useful physical tables, by J[ohn] R[owland] M.D. London: Printed by E. Cotes, for G. Sawbridge [etc.], 1658. p. 127.
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