Spooner's Transformations. No.11. SPOONER (William).

The British Lion Asleep and the British Lion Awake and Roaring.

Small 4to. [290 x 238 mm]. Hand-coloured semi-transparent lithographic illustration on the original card frame with a printed caption. When held to light the image transforms from a sleeping lion in a natural background to being surrounded by a British Naval vessel, named 'Thunderer', in the midst of battle. (Minor stains and slight tear in centre of the image which does not affect the 'transformation'). [ebc8139].

London: 377, Strand, [c.1840].

William Spooner was a print publisher based in London who specialised in novelty lithographs, primarily for children, which he called 'Transformations' or 'Protean Views'. These prints consisted of a scene or symbolic figure pasted onto a window mount with another print layered on the verso. When held to the light the primary image would fade and in turn reveal the secondary image.

Within Spooner's Transformation No. 11, the lion symbolises the British Empire and its transformation to a naval battle portrays the Royal Navy's ferocity and maritime dominance. The naval vessel depicted is likely HMS Thunderer, built in 1783. She was a third rate, 74-gun, ship of the line and during her service she took part in several prominent naval battles including the Battle of Trafalgar.