Spiritual Photographs

Spiritual Photographs

The article Spiritual Photographs essentially serves as a "debunking" for the new phenomenon of "spirit photography," or the idea that new photography technology could depict ghosts. Spirits and ghosts were of particular interest to Victorian culture, and they punctuated Victorian media. This was particularly so during Christmastime, as ghost stories were favorites to tell among family during that season, which explains the popularity of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Therefore, the idea that ghosts and spirits could be captured on film would have been intriguing and exciting for a Victorian audience. However, this article evaluates the truth of it, and essentially communicates it is only a "spiritual sham," recounting a trial of a man named Mumber, who was making profits off of people who believed spiritual photography was real.

Unknown

New York Public Library, 19th Century UK Periodicals (Series I and II)

Melbourne: Melbourne Punch

Jan. 20, 1870

New York Public Library

English

Satirical essay