London
Jany 29 1847
My Dear Sir
I received three letters <1> from you on the eve of my departure from Paris, and hasten to reply. With regard to a change in that part of the agreement, <2> which related to a division of the profits, it would be utterly impossible to tell what percentage on gross receipts would be equivalent to one third of the profits. It would be impracticable to tell what proportion the expenses would bear to the receipts, and if a percentage in the latter even adopted it might swallow up all and even more than the profits. I should not therefore be willing to make any change on that point.
With regard to the idea contained in your last letter, that in consequence of your retaining an interest in the profits, we <3> would not be able to sell the patent or any part of it. I would remark that my idea was always precisely the reverse. Our only object in purchasing the patent would be to be perfectly unfettered, and I conceived that under our understanding we would be perfectly at liberty to sell any part or the whole as we might conceive most conducive to our interests.
I remain in London until Monday, when I shall return to Reading. <4> Hoping to hear from you farther at that place,
I remain With sincere respect Your Obt Servt
E. Anthony
H. Fox Talbot Esq.
Notes:
1. Not located.
2. On the purchase of an American patent on the calotype process.
3. Anthony, Clark & Co, daguerreotypists, at 247 Broadway, New York. Consisting of Anthony, and Isaac R. Clark.
4. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), born in Holland and trained in Paris, was WHFT’s valet who emerged as his assistant in photography. Henneman set up his Calotype works at 8 Russell Terrace, Reading. Commencing operations at the start of 1844, it functioned both as a photographic studio and as a photographic printing works and continued through late 1846, at which time Henneman transferred his operations to London. Although Talbot supported Henneman through custom, such as printing the plates for The Pencil of Nature, and loans, it was always Henneman's operation. His business cards made no mention of "The Reading Establishment," the designation that it is popularly given today; the only contemporary use of that title seemed to be by Benjamin Cowderoy - see Doc. No: 05690.