The Historiscope: A Complete Panorama of America

The historiscope is an educational toy manufactured by Milton Bradley & Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, ca. 1868-1890. It features a scrolling set of hand-colored lithographs wound around two vertical wooden dowels with metal handles set into a cardboard box that allowed a child to present one image after the other to a gathering of family or friends. Twenty-four scenes based on popular contemporary prints or paintings depict critical events in the early history of America. Twelve of the vignettes are dedicated to story of the American Revolution. Accompanying the historiscope was an advertising broadside, a script and two tickets for a live presentation.