20 Victoria Squre
S. W.
Feb. 5– ’62
Dear Sir
To write an article<1> on chemical engraving without giving you a prominent place in it would be like writing a treatise on the Law of Gravitation and omitting the name of Newton – I prefer therefore to wait a little longer for the plate
In your letter of the 11th Jan. <2> you say you could easily send me a plate deeply engraved with lines of writing. or printing. If the document were an interesting one I don’t know but it would be as good as a woodc an engraving, but on the whole I think the engraving would be preferable. As my only chance of giving it to the public would depend on my success in getting a cast from it which would be used in printing with type I would suggest that you should engrave it with a view to this end.
It would take me too long to describe the method I propose to employ but I am strongly of opinion that it will be successful
Faithfully Yours
Geo Lumley
H. F. Talbot Esq.
Any plates or papers you may send me which you wish to have returned shall be duly sent
[envelope:]
H.F. Talbot Esq.
Millburn Tower
Edinburgh
Notes:
1. What Lumley settled for was apparently the unsigned (and unillustrated) article about photomechanical illustration, "A New Chapter in Photography," Once a Week, v. 6, 14 June 1862, pp. 688-691.
2. Not located.