The Ancient Vestry

1822–1872

Half a century of papers for the Royal Society

From 1822 to 1872 Talbot communicated papers to the Royal Society of London, a large share of them on mathematical subjects.

1840s

Photomechanics: the road to photogravure

In the 1840s Talbot turned to the photomechanical reproduction of pictures; this work led to photoglyphic engraving, the precursor of photogravure. Rendering a photograph in printer’s ink made editions cheaper and avoided the fading of early silver prints.

1844

The Reading Establishment for mass-producing prints

Talbot helped set up an establishment in Russell Terrace (now Baker Street), Reading, to mass-produce prints from his calotype negatives; it also printed from others’ negatives, copied artworks and documents and took portraits, but it was not a success. His closest friends and collaborators in photography were Nicolaas Henneman and Antoine Claudet.

1844–1846

“The Pencil of Nature”, the first photobook, appears

Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans issued the book in separate parts: 24 prints, each pasted in by hand and accompanied by a short text. Talbot is regarded as the author of the first photographic book; scholars see in it the design of a new canon built on biblical rhetoric.

1846

“English Etymologies” appears

Talbot, whose interests included etymology, published the book “English Etymologies”.