William Storer patent camera obscura

Details

William Storer patent camera obscura
polished mahogany-body, with sliding lid fitted with brass patent arms and printed label on the underside: BY THE KING'S PATENT. THE ROYAL-DELINEATOR. TO BE HAD OF NO ONE BUT W. STORER. NB: THE ROYAL DELINEATOR IS AN OPTICAL INSTRUMENT THAT OBVIATES THE DEFECTS OF THE CAMERA OBSCURA AS IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE SUN, IS EQUALLY USEFUL BY CANDLE LIGHT BEING AS DISTINCT ACCURATE AT THE EDGES, AS THE CENTRE, AND MUCH BRIGHTER THAN THE OBJECT. W. STORER HAS BROGHT THIS ROYAL DELINEATOR TO PERFORM PROPERLY ON PORTRAITS, LANDSCAPES, BUILDINGS, PAINTINGS, ETC, ETC. FIELD OF VIEW ANY SIZE, SUBMIT TO THE ROYAL FAMILY, NOBILITY, ARTISTS, ADMIRERS OF THE ARTS, FOR THEIR FUTURE APPROBATION, some damage to wood-body, mounted on a folding wooden stand

Literature

J. H. Hammond (1981), The Camera Obscura, p.79.

Lot Essay

William Storer patented a design for a reflex camera obscura in 1778, which he marketed as his 'Royal Accurate Delineator' and was granted patent no. 1183.Horace Walpole (1717-97) the novelist and designer of the country house Strawberry Hill, owned a delineator, which he had purchased from Storer. In a letter to the reverend William West, he describes its use.

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