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Record Details

Photograph (Experimental Photogenic Drawing), by Sir John Herschel, February 21, 1839

Inventory Number: 35834
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 21, 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. The inscription on the front implies the image was not visible at the time.

Subject: not visible image???
Technique: not apparent
Format: inscriptions horizontal
Polarity: not apparent
Orientation: not apparent
Quality: no visible image???
Colour: pale primrose yellow, bright on front and much paler on back
Chemistry: silver based, fixed with potassium iodide
Coating: none
Inscription: chemical note, signature, date
Paper: xxx
Condition: good
Purpose: a fixing experiment using potassium iodide.

For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.
Primary Inscriptions: 'Hydriod Pot JFWH. Photogr. Feb. 21/39' and on front 'Hydriod Pot' [hydriodate 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
88 106 mm

Narratives

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