The Pencil of Nature, Fascicle no.1

细节

WILLIAM HENRY FOX TALBOT (1800-1877)
The Pencil of Nature, Fascicle no.1
London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1844.
With 5 salt prints from calotype negatives. Varying sizes from 5 1/8 x 5 7/8in. (13 x 15cm.) to 6¼ x 8½in. (16 x 21.5cm.) or reverse. Each sequentially numbered and ruled in ink on mount. Original printed paper wrapper (disbound). 4to.

来源

This copy belonged to Aaron Watson, a journalist who wrote about Lacock Abbey for the Wiltshire Gazette in 1923.

出版

For a detailed account of The Pencil of Nature and Henneman's Reading Establishment, see: L.J. Schaaf, H. Fox Talbot's The Pencil of Nature, Anniversary Facsimile, Introductory Vol., New York, 1989.

注意事项

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

拍品专文

UNRECORDED PART ONE OF THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPHICALLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK TO BE COMMERCIALLY PUBLISHED1

William Henry Fox Talbot's seminal publication The Pencil of Nature was printed at Nicolaas Henneman's Reading Establishment in six parts between 1844 and 1846 and was available for purchase through booksellers. This copy of the first fascicle includes the following plates:

I. Part of Queen's College, Oxford, 4 September 1843 - This is the original plate by Talbot. The negatives for this plate and plate V became unusable sometime before 1846 and late issues may include one or both of the replacement plates.
II. View of the Boulevards at Paris, May 1843
III. Articles of China, before January 1844
IV. Articles of Glass, before June 1844
V. Bust of Patroclus, c.1846 - This is a much larger replacement plate.
1 L.J. Schaaf, "The Pencil of Nature, A Revised Census of the Original Copies", History of Photography, Vol.17, No.4, Winter 1993.

Christie's Photographs extend our sincere thanks to Larry J. Schaaf for his invaluable expertise and advice regarding this and all subsequent lots relating to Talbot and his circle.