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Record Details

Photograph (Experimental Photogenic Drawing), by Sir John Herschel, February 19, 1839

Inventory Number: 31428
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 19, 1839, made as a fixing experiment during the earliest phase of his photographic researches. An unsuccessful trial of potassium iodide as an alternative to hypo. Herschel has inspected it after two months and noted the 'total oblit[eratio]n' of the image (compare 33623).

Subject: no image
Technique: not apparent
Format: inscription vertical
Polarity: not apparent
Orientation: not apparent
Quality: no visible image
Colour: pale primrose yellow
Chemistry: silver based, fixed with potassium iodide
Coating: none
Inscription: inspection note, signature, fate, chemical note
Paper: xxx, larger than usual
Condition: good
Purpose: a fixing experiment using potassium iodide.

For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.
Primary Inscriptions: 'April 11. total oblitn- | J.F.W H. Photogr. Feb. 19. Hydriod Pot' [hydriodate of potash; in Herschel's hand]. Also 'F' on front.
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
136 108 mm

Narratives

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