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Document number: 4496
Date: 28 Apr 1843
Dating: 1842? 1843? date & postmark unclear, but relates to Doc 04762 and patent filing
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: CLAUDET Antoine François Jean
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 5th September 2012

Londres,
28. Avril 1843

Monsieur,

Je suis arrivé hier de Paris & je m’empresse de vous en prévenir afin qu’aussitôt que vous serez en ville je puisse avoir l’honneur de vous voir au sujet de la license pour le Calotype.

Mr Houghton <1> mon associé m’a dit que vous avez commencé une nouvelle patente pour perfectionnements dans la photographie,<2> & que mes agents de Patente Mess. Newton & Sons lui avaient conseillé “to enter an opposition”, ce qu’il a fait dans son ignorance de ce que pouvait etre votre perfectionnment. Comme ce n’est qu’une affaire de forme & que nous n’avons pas envie opposer rien de ce qui concerne le Calotype ou rien de ce que vous pouvez avoir découvert dans les autres branches de la photographie & qui nous est inconnu, nous ne vous entraînerons pas dans des frais inutiles & je pense qu’un entretien suffira pour nous entendre a ce sujet.

agréez, Monsieur, l’assurance de ma consideration tres distingue Votre tres humble Serviteur

A. Claudet

[address panel:]
H. Fox Talbot Esqr
Laycock Abbey,
Chippenham


Translation:

London,
April 28, 1843

Sir,

I arrived here from Paris yesterday, & I hasten to inform you of the fact so that I may have the honour of seeing you as soon as you are in town, to discuss the license for the Calotype.

Mr Houghton, my associate, told me that you have applied for a new patent for improvements in photography, & that my Patent agents, Mr Newton & Sons, had advised him “to enter an opposition”, which he did without knowing what your improvement could be. As it is only a formality, & as we do not wish to oppose anything concerning the Calotype or anything which you may have discovered in the other branches of photography which is unknown to us, we will not involve you in needless expenses, & I think that an interview will be sufficient for us to agree on this subject.

be assured, Sir, of my sincere regards Your most humble Servant
A. Claudet

[address panel:]
H. Fox Talbot Esqr
Laycock Abbey,
Chippenham


Notes:

1. George Houghton (b. 1805) had joined Claudet’s glass business in 1834; upon Claudet’s death in 1867, Houghton took over the photographic business and turned it into a successful camera manufactory, He was joined by his son, George Houghton, jnr. (1835-1913).

2. This was Patent No. 9753, "Improvements in Photography," which was finally enrolled 1 December 1843.

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