PHOTOGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE.
Multiplication of Photographs.—In Vol. viii., p. 60. is a letter from Mr. John Stewart of Pau suggesting certain modes of operating in producing positive photographs, and which suggestions are apparently offered as novelties, when, in fact, they have been for some considerable time in practice by other manipulators. Of course, I do not suppose that they are otherwise regarded by Mr. Stewart than as novelties, who cannot be acquainted with what is doing here; but it appears to me desirable to discriminate between facts that are absolutely, and those that are relatively new.
Most of the transparent stereoscopic photographs sold in such numbers by all our eminent opticians, are actually produced in the way recommended by Mr. Stewart; and reduced copies of photographs, &c., have been produced in almost every possible variety by Dr. Diamond, and many others of our most eminent photographers. Very early in the history of this science, the idea was suggested by Mr. Fox Talbot himself, of taking views of a small size, and enlarging them for multiplication; and, if I am rightly informed, Mr. Ross was applied to to construct a lens specially for the purpose. Some months back, as early at least as March or April in the present year, Mr. F. H. Wenham actually printed on common chloride paper a life-size positive from a small negative on collodion; and immediately afterwards adopted the use of iodized paper for the same purpose; and after he had exhibited the proofs, I myself repeated the experiment. In fact, had there been time at the last meeting of the Photographic Society, a paper on this very subject would have been read by Mr. Wenham; but the
business before the meeting was too extensive to admit of it. My object is not, of course, to offer any objection to the proposition, but simply to put in a claim of merit for the idea originally due to Mr. Fox Talbot, and secondarily to Mr. Wenham, who I believe was an earlier operator in this way than any one.
Geo. Shadbolt.
Yellow Bottles for Photographic Chemicals.—As light transmitted through a yellow curtain, or yellow glass, does not affect photographic operations, would it not be desirable to keep the nitrate of silver and its solutions in yellow glass bottles, instead of covering the plain white glass with black paper, as I see directed in some cases?
Ceridwen.