<a virtually verbatim draft is in the collection of the Royal Photographic Society>
Lacock Abbey, Chippenham
June 13th 1860
Dr Sir
Your letter though dated the 8th inst. <1> only reached here Yesterday. With your permission I will defer further consideration of the question of the zincography with reference to my patent, <2> for a couple of months, for the reason that I am going to the Continent next week, or very soon afterwards, being one of the devoted band of astronomers and men of science who intend health permitting – to observe the eclipse of the 18th July in the North of Spain –
From the particulars You mention in your letter of the present mode of engraving the Ordnance maps it results that the actual engraving is wholly done by hand – All that photography does for you is to trace out an outline which the engraver is to follow with his tool as closely as he can. But in a map 3 × 2 feet I think there must be some thousands of names and I do not see how these can be engraved by one man with less than several days labour. Consequently though I cannot estimate exactly the saving wch wd be effected by the photoglyphic process, I perceive that it must be considerable.
I remain
Yours very Truly
H. F. Talbot
Col Sir H James &c SouthamptonNotes:
1. See Doc. No: 08113.
2. WHFT and James were in negotiation over the process of zincography employed by the Ordnance Survey Office, and whether it infringed either of WHFT’s patents for photographic or photoglyphic engraving.