A. Claudet, F.R.S. A Memoir ... For Distribution at the Meeting of the British Association at Norwich 19 August 1868

London: Basil Montagu Pickering [Printed by Ranken and Company, Drury House.], 1868. First edition, "Reprinted from 'The Scientific Review.. Mounted frontispiece portrait of Claudet "Obtained with his Focus-Equalizer. Printed from the only negative preserved." 32 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Crimson cloth spine and green printed wrappers. Early pencilled marginalia, some minor marginal stains. In crimson cloth slipcase and chemise. First edition, "Reprinted from 'The Scientific Review." Mounted frontispiece portrait of Claudet "Obtained with his Focus-Equalizer. Printed from the only negative preserved." 32 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. A vital memoir of the photographic pioneer (truncated) and innovator, Antoine Francois Jean Claudet (1797-1867), frequently called the first commercial photographer. Claudet, after learning about the daguerreotype process from Louis Daguerre (1787-1851) in Paris, moved to London and set up a daguerreotype portrait studio in 1841, directly competing with Richard Beard (c 1801-c 1888). After much rivalry, Claudet became the more successful of the two and was appointed the official photographer to Queen Victoria. Claudet invented the red darkroom light, discovered a way to reduce exposure time for daguerreotypes, and was the first to use painted backgrounds and props in photographs

The memoir gives a complete sketch of Claudet's career and achievements, with a final Appendix listing his scientific papers. (Inventory #: 228497)