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Document number: 4474
Date: 31 Mar 1842
Recipient: COLLEN Henry
Author: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 5th April 2010

[draft

31 March/42
L. Abb. –

I sh proby concl an Agrt wth B. appng him my s. Agr fr wg ye C.pt but this w not in any wy afft ye rts wh you hve acq. undr yr license.

I know it is B’s intn to put hlf in th w you, in ordr to know whr yr coopn can be obtd in wkg ye pr in Ln & this at my sugn bg desirous that every attn shd be shown to you wch can reasby be expected. I h. no dt that by cooprn gt thgs mt be achieved, but I can do no more tn propose it, it will be for you to enter into ye schme or not as y. may thk most desirable

As to Claudet I can only rect yt he sp. of a Lse once, & that in a cas. mn. But supp. I had gn him a L. why shd I not? Any 1 reading yr letter wd suppose I had agreed wth you not to do so, or that I had ld myself under some other restrictns wh I have alws from ye 1st totally refused to do, & can refer you in proof to almost evy 1 of my 1rs. But if any agrt can be entd in to bent to yr intst I shll be vy glad of it, & sch I thk may be ye case if you like to coop. –

expanded version

31 March 1842

Lacock Abbey –

I shall probably conclude an agreement with Beard <1> appointing him my sole Agent for working the Calotype patent <2> but this would not in any way affect the rights which you have acquired under the license. <3>

I know it is Beard’s intention to put himself in touch with you, in order to know whether your cooperation can be obtained in working the Patent in London and this at my suggestion being desirous that every attention should be shown to you which can reasonably be expected. I have no doubt that by cooperation great things might be achieved, but I can do no more than propose it, it will be for you to enter into the scheme or not as you may think most desirable.

As to Claudet <4> I can only recount that he spoke of a license once, and that in a casual mention. But suppose I had granted a License why should I not? Any one reading your letter would suppose I had agreed with you not to do so, or that I had limited myself under some other restrictions which I have always from the first totally refused to do, and can refer you in proof to almost every one of my letters. But if any agreement can be entered in to benefit to your interest I shall be very glad of it, and such I think may be the case if you like to cooperate –


Notes:

1. Richard Beard (1801–1885), coal merchant & daguerreotypist, London.

2. WHFT’s calotype patent, number 8842, entitled Photographic Pictures. In a second part, he described a direct positive paper process, employing chemistry closely related to the calotype – its use was never widespread.

3. In 1842, Collen became the first person licensed to practice calotype portraiture, and he set up a studio in London.

4. Antoine Françoise Jean Claudet (1797–1867), London; French-born scientist, merchant & photographer, resident in London.

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