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Document number: 5773
Date: 11 Nov 1846
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: JONES Calvert Richard
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA46-126
Last updated: 3rd February 2010

Veranda.
Novbr 11.
1846

Dear Sir,

I feel most anxious to further the cause of the Talbotype, and therefore accept your offer with respect to all my negatives; considering the patience and trouble which such a number require, the price is not very high, and had not circumstances taken me to the South, I could not have done them at so small a remuneration.

I very much regret that I feel at present compelled to demand any thing for my exertions, which otherwise wd be amply repaid by your thanks, and the satisfaction I shd feel in diffusing the fame of that beautiful art, whose discovery so much honours yourself.

I think and hope that your anticipations about the future sale of copies from the negatives I have furnished you, are quite wrong: a great number of the Foreign ones are remarkably good; and represent the best points of view in the cities where they were taken and will therefore command a constant sale.

The Florence groups <1> you mention were taken on the spot outside of the “Loggia de’ Lanzi”, and the groups in the background are behind under the Arcade.

I have lately been coloring some of the copies of views which I have taken, and the effect is so wonderfully beautiful that it exceeds my hopes and expectations: a very intimate knowledge of the local colour by the Artist himself is necessary for this operation, which I much desire to shew you, and think you will be much charmed with this extension of the Art.

If possible I shall run up and shew you my specimens as I much wish to see the establishment at Reading. <2> Your letter arrived too late on Saturday for me [to? illegible] anything about an Agency here, which I do not doubt to effect; I will try and settle one for you at Cardiff.

I have sent the greater part of the copies you were so good as to forward me as advertisements to friends in various remote parts.

Yours very truly
Calvert R. Jones.

I shall be at Cardiff Castle about a week or 10 days. I trust you will of course allow me my Artists copies of each of my views.

Notes:

1. Probably ‘Rape of the Sabines (first view)’ and ‘Rape of the Sabines (second view)’, of the sculpture by Giovanni Bologna bearing the same name, and two other sculptures in the background. [See Doc. No: 05685].

2. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), born in Holland and trained in Paris, was WHFT’s valet who emerged as his assistant in photography. Henneman set up his Calotype works at 8 Russell Terrace, Reading. Commencing operations at the start of 1844, it functioned both as a photographic studio and as a photographic printing works and continued through late 1846, at which time Henneman transferred his operations to London. Although Talbot supported Henneman through custom, such as printing the plates for The Pencil of Nature, and loans, it was always Henneman's operation. His business cards made no mention of "The Reading Establishment," the designation that it is popularly given today; the only contemporary use of that title seemed to be by Benjamin Cowderoy - see Doc. No: 05690.

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