— Mungo Ponton observed that light altered and hardened bichromate of potash, and produced yellow photographs with that material. This discovery led to the invention of the Autotype, Woodburytype, Collotype, and other methods of photo-mechanical printing.
1839. Daguerre’s success communicated to the Academy of Science, Paris, by M. Arago, January 7th.
— Electrotype process announced.
— Professor Faraday described Fox Talbot’s new method of photogenic drawing to the members of the Royal Institution, January 25th.
— Fox Talbot read a paper, giving a full description of his process, before the Royal Society, January 31st.
— Sir John Herschel introduced hyposulphite of soda as a fixing agent, February 14th.
— Dr. Alfred Swaine Taylor employed ammonia nitrate of silver in preference to chloride of silver for making photogenic drawings, and employed hyposulphite of lime in preference to hyposulphite of soda for fixing.
— Daguerre’s process published in August, and patent, for England, granted to Mr. Beard, London, August 14th.
— “History and Practice of Photogenic Drawing”; L. S. M. Daguerre. Published September.
— First photographic portrait taken on a Daguerreotype plate by Professor. J. W. Draper, New York, U. S., in the autumn of this year.