Summary
Lantern slide - photograph of camouflaged ship in a harbour in Sydney in 1916. Camouflage was in its infancy at that time, but it was recognized that painting ships and other large objects with geometric shapes could deceive the eye. The term 'camouflage' was only used from 1917 (OED).
The ship may be the HAMT Persic, although the latter is generally pictured with four masts rather than the three visible in this image.
Description of Content
Photograph of ship painted with camouflage paint in angular patterns of different shades. Two smaller boats in front give an idea of the scale of the ship. Low-rise buildings and trees appear behind; a multi-storied dock building can just be seen on the right of the image.
Physical Description
Lantern slide, rectangular format, black and white, with black edging.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Place & Date Depicted
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Format
Lantern Slide, Standard (3¼ in. x 3¼ in.), Black & White
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Inscriptions
Hand-written beneath image: 'Camauflage [sic] - Sydney. 1916'
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
82 mm (Width), 82 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Home Fronts, Military History, Ships, Tugboats, World War I, 1914-1918, Lantern Slides