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Record Details

Photograph (Experimental Photogenic Drawing), by Sir John Herschel, February 26, 1839

Inventory Number: 36945
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 26, 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: no visible image
Technique: not apparent
Format: inscription vertical???
Polarity: not apparent
Orientation: not apparent
Quality: no visible image
Colour: fawn with various stains
Chemistry: silver based, fixed with potassium ferrocyanide
Coating: none
Inscription: date, chemical note
Paper: thin
Condition: good
Purpose: a fixing experiment using potassium ferrocyanide.

For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.
Primary Inscriptions: 'Feb. 26/ | very weak F.C Pot' [ferrocyanate 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
107 86 mm

Narratives

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