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Camera used by William Henry Fox Talbot

Camera
ca. 1840-1844 (made)

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 4 parts.

  • Camera
  • Focusing Screen
  • Paper Negative Holder
  • Dark Slide
Titles
  • Camera used by William Henry Fox Talbot (generic title)
  • Talbot camera no. 8 (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Achromatic lens consist of 2 glass elements, concave and convex, designed to limit the effects of chromatic and spherical aberration.
Brief description
Camera used by William Henry Fox Talbot. Wooden construction with a metal front panel and lens housing. Has an achromatic lens and an internal rack and pinion focusing mechanism, operated by an external brass wheel fixed to the top of the camera. Two metal guides fixed to the bottom of the camera allow for the film holder or focusing screen to be held in place, ca. 1840-1844
Physical description
Camera, wooden construction with a metal front panel and lens housing. Featuring an archromatic lens with a curved focal plane, an internal rack and pinion focusing system with an external brass wheel on top of the camera to operate. Brass hook on top panel at the front of the camera. Two metal guides fixed to the bottom of the camera at the rear allow for the film holder or focusing screen to be held in place. The focusing screen consists of a wooden frame holding a curved optical glass element to be used while focusing the camera. The paper negative holder is a wooden construction with two curved glass surfaces to hold a paper negative in a curved focal plane, with metal hinges on one side and a broken catch. Seperable darkslide made of wood with a brass handle to aid in removal.
Dimensions
  • Height: 140mm
  • Width: 120mm
  • Depth: 348mm
Marks and inscriptions
No.8 (Inscribed in pencil)
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.
Association
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
  • 4156 - Royal Photographic Society number
  • 10.5 - Royal Photographic Society number
Collection
Accession number
RPS.3039:1-2017

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Record createdDecember 22, 2017
Record URL
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