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Record Details

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

Inventory Number: 70474
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, April 19, 1839, made as a hypo fixing experiment during the earliest phase of his photographic researches. This is one of two standard size items found among the larger photographs (packet 17), so may have strayed from a nearby packet.

Subject: ?engraving, slight hints of image and border only
Technique: ?contact copy (print) from a negative
Format: inscription horizontal
Polarity: ?positive (possible light border)
Orientation: not apparent
Quality: not discernible, slight fragments of image only
Colour: pale sepia with greyish sepia areas, grainy brownish margin at right (showing sepia on back), fawn back with darker blotch
Chemistry: silver based, hypo fixed
Coating: none
Inscription: chemical note, date
Paper: normal
Condition: good
Purpose: a hypo fixing experiment.

For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.
Primary Inscriptions: 'HS. Sod Apl 19/39' [hyposulphite of soda; 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
92 125 mm

Narratives

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