32 Harley Street <1>
May 6/51
My dear Sir
Use the name of Amphitype by all means for your beautiful invention <2> – My process to wch I gave that name I could never bring to a certainty <3> – sometimes the effects were excellent but 9 times out of 10 the results were spoiled & no doubt by perseverance it might be assured – but it is lost in the marvels which arise daily So pray have no scruple I long to see some of your products – For the Solar Eclipse <4> such a process will be invaluable
Yours very ty
JFW Herschel
[family copy, fair copy:]
From J.F.W.H.
To H.F.Talbot
32 Harley St.
May 6 1851
My dear Sir
Use the name Amphitype by all means for your beautiful invention – My process to wh. I gave that name I could never bring to a certainty sometimes the effects were excellent but 9 times out of 10 the effects were spoiled. No doubt by perseverence it might be assured – but it is lost in the marvels which arise daily So pray have no scruple I long to see some of your products. For the Solar eclipse such a process will be invaluable.
yours very truly
(Sd) J. F. W. H.
Notes:
1. London.
2. His new method of instantaneous photography, see Doc. No: 06525.
3. This was the process Herschel first called celænotype, and briefly amphitype. See Doc. No: 04788, Doc. No: 04784, and Doc. No: 04778.
4. On 28 July 1851.