Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
March 20. 1841

Dear Sir

I have the pleasure to enclose you a specimen of my Calotype process ^<1> – It is a view of Clifton. ^<2> This is only a copy of the original photograph, in which the sharpness of the outlines is a little impaired – In the original the bars of the venetian blinds are easily to be counted with a lens; in the copy they can be made out, though with less distinctness.

Believe me Yours very truly
H. F. Talbot

---

Notes:

1. WHFT had not yet revealed the manipulatory details of his new calotype process, which produced a developed negative by taking advantage of a latent image.

2. Clifton, Bristol, on the Avon Gorge. This is probably the view of a street of shops with the Rose Tavern at the left, Schaaf 3500; it was referred to on 18 March 1841 in WHFT’s memorandum book and was most likely taken by Robert Hunt (1807–1887), scientist & photographic historian, and sent to WHFT. This print is preserved in the Herschel Collection at HRHRC (964:054:042).