Brecon.
Septber 29
1846.
My dear Sir,
I am much obliged by your offer of a certain number of copies of the Yorkshire views to dispose of; but my circle of acquaintance being small, and as I have always recommended persons interested in Photography to your Agents, I should not be able to get rid of any.
I should much prefer doing Negatives at a stipulated price for each but if that does not suit your views I should be glad to know what per centage you propose giving me on a given number of copies disposed of, as it is both troublesome and expensive doing the negatives, and it is possible that “ le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle <1>”: as those which I shd take for my own gratification and instruction are very different than what wd suit the purpose of general sale.
Since I have been here I have done above 40 small views, of which Mr Ward a shopkeeper has I believe requested to have copies for approval, and I have no doubt will take a stock of them. At Swansea also I have done a considerable number, which will probably sell well, and many more remain to be done. As for the Maltese and Italian views I am confidend [sic] they will secure a long and constant approval.
I mention these points to shew you my warmth in the cause, and only regret that I cannot afford the time and expense of doing them for you gratis. I return to Glamorganshire tomorrow, and am impatient to see the copies which you were so kind as to send there: Mr Cowderoy <2> omitted to send me a copy of one of my Dutch subjects (with a Windmill in it) the other one of Dutch vessels under sail is the most extraordinary counterfeit of a sepia drawing from an oil painting that I ever saw, and has been amazingly admired.
I again suggest (if it has not been done) that the name and description of every subject shd be written on it
Yours very truly
Calvert R Jones.
Notes:
1. It is not worth the effort.
2. Benjamin Cowderoy (1812–1904), land agent in Reading; business manager for WHFT; later a politician in Australia.
3. A camera specially constructed to take ‘panoramic joiners’, photographs that could be joined into a panorama. Jones did however not construct this camera until 1853, when he presented it to the Photographic Society of London. See Larry J. Schaaf, Sun Pictures Catalogue Five: The Reverend Calvert R. Jones (New York: Hans P. Kraus, Jr, Inc, 1990), pp. 38, 39.