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Culpepper Microscope, owned by William Henry Fox Talbot

Microscope
1770-1810 (manufactured)
Place of origin

Talbot was the British inventor of photography. In 1834 he discovered how to make and fix images through the action of light and chemistry on paper. These ‘negatives’ could be used to make multiple prints. This revolutionised image making.

Talbot excelled in many fields, including mathematics, optics, botany and chemistry. However, it was his inability to master drawing outdoors that prompted him to experiment with capturing images inside a camera. He published his photographic discoveries and ideas, illustrated with original photographs, in his book The Pencil of Nature. Talbot patented his negative photographic process, which he called the ‘calotype’, in 1841. Later, he pioneered photographic engraving – printing photographs in ink. His processes became the basis of virtually all subsequent photography.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Microscope
  • Microscope Case
  • Microscope Accessories
TitleCulpepper Microscope, owned by William Henry Fox Talbot (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Culpepper microscope, owned by William Henry Fox Talbot. Brass microscope in a wooden case with a box of assorted accessories, ca. 1780 with early 19th century focusing modifications
Physical description
Culpepper microscope in a wooden case with a box of accessories in a compartment within the case. The rear panel of the case is loose and detachable from the case. The microscope is brass with sliding tube coarse focus adjustment and rack and pinion fine adjustment, the coarse adjustment was added at a later date. The box of accessories is made of paper covered card with various accessories including two extra objective lenses, green pillbox containing objective lens, hand forceps, key with paper tag attached with string and inscribed with 'microscope [?] [?] used by H. Fox Talbot &(?) given by his granddaughter to [?] . Rodman in 1921' in faded ink.
Dimensions
  • Microscope height: 260mm
  • Microscope base diameter: 85mm
  • Case height: 330mm
  • Base of case width: 129mm
  • Base of case depth: 126mm
  • Top of case width: 50mm
  • Top of case depth: 45mm
  • Accessories box height: 33mm
  • Accessories box width: 92mm
  • Accessories box depth: 92mm
Marks and inscriptions
'microscope [?] [?] used by H. Fox Talbot &(?) given by his granddaughter to [?]. Rodman in 1921' (In ink on a paper label attached to key within the accessories box, heavily faded.)
Gallery label
Photography Centre 2018-20: William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–77) Talbot was the British inventor of photography. In 1834 he discovered how to make and fix images through the action of light and chemistry on paper. These ‘negatives’ could be used to make multiple prints. This revolutionised image making. Talbot excelled in many fields, including mathematics, optics, botany and chemistry. However, it was his inability to master drawing outdoors that prompted him to experiment with capturing images inside a camera. He published his photographic discoveries and ideas, illustrated with original photographs, in his book The Pencil of Nature. Talbot patented his negative photographic process, which he called the ‘calotype’, in 1841. Later, he pioneered photographic engraving – printing photographs in ink. His processes became the basis of virtually all subsequent photography. You can see how calotypes are made in the ‘Dark Tent’ film room in Room 99. The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Art Fund
Credit line
The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund.
Subject depicted
Summary
Talbot was the British inventor of photography. In 1834 he discovered how to make and fix images through the action of light and chemistry on paper. These ‘negatives’ could be used to make multiple prints. This revolutionised image making.

Talbot excelled in many fields, including mathematics, optics, botany and chemistry. However, it was his inability to master drawing outdoors that prompted him to experiment with capturing images inside a camera. He published his photographic discoveries and ideas, illustrated with original photographs, in his book The Pencil of Nature. Talbot patented his negative photographic process, which he called the ‘calotype’, in 1841. Later, he pioneered photographic engraving – printing photographs in ink. His processes became the basis of virtually all subsequent photography.
Other numbers
  • 2966 - Royal Photographic Society number
  • 1936-431 - Science Museum Group accession number
Collection
Accession number
RPS.3036:1-2017

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Record createdDecember 22, 2017
Record URL
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