Aug. 8 1863
Dear Sir,
Another week goes by & no proof yet to show you of your Guajara Plate, as tinted & prepared for the book.
Mr Banks asked me to leave it the plate in his hand & he would make all possible progress. But I called on Wednesday & found he was printing, in the titles, “copper” plate, though he had such abundant reason for knowing it to be steel.
This of course was to be altered and he promised a tinted proof by Friday (yesterday), but it is not ready come yet; & I must call on Monday & learn why, being anxious to be [illegible] by the British Association meeting.
The Preface sheet which I showed you before, I am still keeping up from being printed, until the copies of the plate are actually completed by Mr Banks. – and it now occurs to me to ask, if you would like anything further to be noted about the plate, or your engraving method, in the Preface? If you do, I shall be happy to send you the sheet for its mention; but if you do not, you will not of course send any answer to this; & I shall forward you the first complete proof of the plate all the same.
Yours very truly
C. Piazzi Smyth
H. Fox Talbot Esqre