Lacock Abbey
Sept. 1. 1840
Dear Sir
I enclose <1> 2 camera views of vignette size, suitable to tourists who cannot conveniently take about with them a larger apparatus.
The leaves are transferred from a negative photograph. I have not been able this summer to give more than a desultory and divided attention to the subject. I had & still have the intention of making a little photographic tour, in search of objects more picturesque than my own immediate neighbourhood supplies. A great desideratum is more sensitive paper, in order that the tourist may make many sketches in one day with one instrument. Or, what would come to the same, an improved object glass allowing of large aperture.
I return your interesting specimens in the spectrum I do not see any green or decided yellow: perhaps the journey has altered the tints or faded them. I should be much surprized if it were found possible to represent the prismatic tints rigorously, because I see no connexion between the colour of the ray dependent upon the length of the undulation & the colour of the photograph, dependent upon it is very difficult to say what. Mr Hunt <2> has obtained a coloured picture of the spectrum on iodized silver plates which appears to me one of the most likely ways of coming to a correct understanding of the phenomenon because not complicated with the chemical action of paper.
How long did it take to make the Pink lady. <3> I am afraid vegetable substances will not be practically available to an great extent.
I cannot say I have much improvement to boast of, of late, but the art remains in status quo since April or May.
Believe me to remain sir Yours most truly
H. F. Talbot
Notes:
1. Not located.
2. Robert Hunt (1807–1887), scientist & photographic historian.
3. An experimental colour photograph made by Herschel from the juice of flowers. [See Doc. No: 04129].