Antique Set of 25 Glass Photographic Plates for Educational Use. France, Circa 1900

Antique Set of 25 Glass Photographic Plates for Educational Use. France, Circa 1900

Antique set of 25 glass photographic plates for educational use, very well preserved and in its original wooden case. The set originates from France and was produced circa 1900. It is complete and in excellent condition. All the plates belong to the same set and are in very good condition: they feature a series of black-and-white drawings depicting images related to meteorology. The drawings possess undeniable charm, being as beautiful as they are descriptive.

One of the plates shows an old portrait of the scientist and engineer Charles-Louis Weyher, born in 1836 in Strasbourg (France) and who died in 1916. Weyher was an engineer of arts and manufactures, and for years held the position of administrator at the Weyher Loreau et Cie Central Machine Construction Society, later known as Weyher & Richemond. Weyher wrote several reference works on meteorology and won the Grand Prize for Mechanics at the 1878 Worlds Fair. He was also appointed an Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1889. The plates in this photographic set show designs he created based on his research.

The set of plates is entirely dedicated to illustrating the causes and development of various meteorological phenomena: storms, tornadoes The drawings feature explanatory diagrams, some with captions in French, as well as diagrams of experiments and apparatus designed to reproduce the phenomena in the laboratory. There are also images of constellations and cosmic nebulae. The plates bear handwritten inscriptions in French describing their content. The case in which they are stored is made of solid wood, with the original hinges and hardware. It is in excellent condition.

Complete and antique, this set of teaching plates is a fascinating item for lovers of scientific antiques.