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Document number: 06013
Date: 15 Oct 1847
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: JONES Calvert Richard
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA47-81
Last updated: 16th February 2012

Heathfield.
Octr 15. 1847.

Dear Sir,

I delayed writing until I had recieved [sic] my coloured copies, and I am sorry to say that some of them exhibit melancholy evidence in the shape of fly marks that they have been exhibited for some time, contrary to my express desire; which has also been frustrated by the sale of one of them. I am therefore as you may imagine much annoyed at Henneman's <1> misconceptions of my orders.

I have always desired that you shd participate in the success of my endeavour in the art, and when I extended it by colouring, I offered you the copies at what I considered a cheap rate, as, after paying you 3s for each copy, I was content with a profit of 12s for what many of the best judges of art, and especially Mr J. D. Harding <2> pronounced as being very beautiful. I did not however wish to force them on you, and merely begged to have them back directly, as I might possibly dispose of them elsewhere, or at all events they wd be acceptable presents.

The same with respect to Negatives, I am grateful to you for teaching me the art, and wd wish if I cd afford it, to give you all I do for the benefit of the Establishment; <3> but I have devoted a great deal of time and been at considerable expence and trouble in the pursuit of many which I shd not have sought for myself; and therefore I wish to turn them to some account. As however so much misconception has arisen about the others, and as an old saying declares that "Short accounts make long friends" I prefer selling them for some fixed price as I did the others

I have a large collection besides those which I left with Henneman, and will if you wish it send them for you to see, I only beg that if you do not wish to have them they may be returned immediately, as I wish to copy them myself (having promised a copy of Cardiff Castle to Ld Bute and Ld J. Stuart) <4> and being similarly situated to many other friends whose houses I have taken.

I am sorry to say that several beautiful views at Bristol were destroyed by the very bad paper which was sent me.

Pray do not omit to let me have Sr Lecchi's <5> receipt, as it will take me some time to have it direct from Mr Bridges. <6>

Yours very truly
Calvert R. Jones.


Notes:

1. Nicolaas Henneman (1813-1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT's valet, then assistant; photographer.

2. James Duffield Harding (1797-1863), painter, writer on art theory and teacher of among others John Ruskin and Jones himself.

3. 122 Regent Street, London: base of Nicolaas Hennemans' Talbotype or Sun Picture Rooms, later the firm of Henneman & Malone, photographers to the Queen.

4. John, 2nd Marquess of Bute and 6th Earl of Dumfries (1793-1848), and his son, Lord John Stuart (1847-1900), 3rd Marquess of Bute).

5. Stefano Lecchi, a Milanese photographer now best known for his calotypes of the destruction caused by the short-lived 1849 Roman Republic. [See Doc. No: 05453 and Doc. No: 05985 ].

6. Rev George Wilson Bridges (1788-1863), photographer & traveller.