History of Science Museum: Collection Database Search

Record Details

Photograph (Experimental Photogenic Drawing), by Sir John Herschel, February 27, 1839

Inventory Number: 24144
Object Type:
Persons: Sir John Frederick William Herschel (Photographer)
Date Created: 1839
Accession Number: 1928-71
Brief Description: Experimental photogenic drawing by Sir John Herschel, February 27, 1839, made as a fixing experiment during the earliest phase of his photographic researches. An unsuccessful trial of potassium ferrocyanide as an alternative to hypo.

Subject: engraving, image not discernible
Technique: contact copy
Format: inscription vertical
Polarity: negative
Orientation: not apparent
Quality: image not discernible, dark border
Colour: very pale blue, border darker, back pale turquoise-blue
Chemistry: silver based, fixed with potassium ferrocyanide
Coating: none
Inscription: date, chemical note
Paper: xxx
Condition: good
Purpose: a fixing experiment using potassium ferrocyanide.

For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.
Primary Inscriptions: 'Feb. 27/39 Very weak F.C. Pot' [ferocyanate of potash; in Herschel's hand].
Provenance: Presented by Miss Herschel and Lady Lubbock in 1928. They were the two surviving and youngest children of Sir John Herschel (Francisca and Constance).
Collection Group: Herschel's Photographic Experiments
Material(s): Paper
Dimensions:
Height Width Depth Diameter Unit
115 88 mm

Narratives

Permalink: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/object/inv/24144