Laterna magica - Czech. Latarna Magicka, in Polish magic lantern, is a device for projecting photographs, originating from the Czech Republic. It is called the precursor of cinema, operating on the principle of an optical projector displaying images from glass slides in light passing through a lens system. Originally, the light source could be an oil lamp. It had at least one focusing lens (objective). Advanced models had 2 or 3 lenses (biunial lantern, triple lantern) for smooth transitions. It includes a concave mirror placed behind the light source to concentrate its rays and direct them onto the slide, otherwise known as a reflector. The model is made of sheet metal, intended for portability. The slides it used were glass plates, hand-painted or printed. A typical size is about 8x8 cm. They were mounted in wooden or cardboard frames. It had a wide range of applications, from entertainment to spreading propaganda content.