[draft:]

Aug 29 –66

F. Joubert Esq
36 Porchester Terrace
W

Dear Sir

In reply to y^r oblig^g letter of the 27^th inst. I have sent 3 specimens of my ph.glyphic engravings, w^ch I request you to accept.

M^r Brooker says that 2000 impress^ns _^^{& perhaps more} can be taken from the plates. Such a result w^d be v^y satisf^ry.

I have thoughts of publsh^g a small work contain^g illustrated by spec^ns of this inventⁿ – It may extend to 8 or 10 numbers, (3 plates in each number) – they will not be retouch^d by hand in the smallest degree – I am aware that a skilful engraver might improve them, [illegible deletion], but my present object is, to show what can be done without any difficulty by the process itself. If I admitted this ^{however little} or all allowd them to be retouched (however little) in the smallest degree, as it would be impossible to the [illegible deletion] Public w^d be sure to attribute any merit the plates may have, to this subsequent manipulatⁿ

I am always very glad to hear the criticism remarks of a judicious critic – They are very likely to lead to improvements of the process – But some of the imperfect^ns _^^{you speak of} were caus’d, not by want of skill in the manipulⁿ of the etching liquid by but by natural causes the natural certain photographic facts, w^ch are unknown or unobserv^d in ordinary photography – Thus for inst^ce the engravings often exhibit _^^{as you say,} a too strong contrast of light & shade – A photograph is copied has to be copied is copied represt_g a build^g illuminated by the Sun, & the resulting engraving offers a moonlight view of the same. This arises f^r the fact that the gradtⁿ of light & shade in _^^the photogly phy ^{phic engraving} [illegible deletion] follows a diff^t law from that of the original objects w^ch it attempts to delineate represent.

for inst^ce a band of paper graduated [illegible deletion] or shaded carefully from perfect whiteness at 1 end to _^^perfect blackness at the other is represent^d in the engraving by a band changing much more sudd^ly from white to black ; in fact, following a differ^t law. The remedy is, doubtless ^{in all probability} to copy only f^m photographs in w^ch the contrast of light & shade is much appears too feeble – It will then come right in the engraving –

The process as origl^ly describ^d & patent^d by me, ^often answers ^tolerably very well sufficiently well – but I found it defic^t in certainty of result, (owing to the great delicacy of the process & great care conseq^ly required) – The specimens I now send are done by a process somewhat different, w^ch appears to give a much greater degree of certainty – in fact one that is practically sufficient. This is especially important in large plates for when those fail the expense of repolishing the plate is considerable – & time & money are wasted. This improved process of w^ch I speak, cannot of course be communicated until secured by patent w^ch I have _^^now under consideratⁿ – [illegible deletion] I have no doubt of the eventual future utility of this inventⁿ but am not sure whether the small specimen work I am about to publish

2

F. Joubert Esq

under consideratⁿ

I am v^y much obliged to you for your offer of assist^ce If any publisher of your acquaintce w^d like to make trial of my system, on a small scale, (say 5 or 6 plates of octavo size)

This circumst^ce precludes me from accepting any direct assistance in at present in making the engravings but any other kind of cooperation, w^d be valuable t tending to the perfection of this new Art, w^d be valuable to me. If for inst^ce if any publisher of your acquaintance w^d like to make trial of my system on a small scale, say 8 or 10 plates of 8^vo size for illustrating some ^a book of travels or any other kind of work, your knowledge of both photography & Engraving w^d enable you to select such views as w^d make good Engravings, & direct prevent all disappointment. Given the negative photographs (w^ch I will suppose to be in the publishers hands) the first step is to make from them positive _^^copies on glass, w^ch must sh^d not have lights & shades in _^^too strong a contrast, but be undertoned (how much I can hardly say; it is a matter for careful experiment aided by a correct judgment) – It is true that positives on paper (or ordinary printed photographs) may by used, but the glass ones give much better engravings – Several London photographers can make them well in sufficient perfection. If the photographs were thus skilfully adjusted to the requirements of the new art, I sh^d make much better Engravings from them which I think w^d be free from the faults you w^ch exist at present –

[expanded version:]

August 29, 1866

F. Joubert Esq
36 Porchester Terrace
W

Dear Sir

In reply to your obliging letter of the 27^th instant I have sent three specimens of my photoglyphic engravings, which I request you to accept. M^r Brooker ^<1> says that 2000 impressions and perhaps more can be taken from the plates. Such a result would be very satisfactory.

I have thoughts of publishing a small work containing illustrated by specimens of this invention – It may extend to eight or ten numbers, (three plates in each number) – they will not be retouched by hand in the smallest degree – I am aware that a skilful engraver might improve them, [illegible deletion], but my present object is, to show what can be done without any difficulty by the process itself. If I admitted this however little or allowed allowed them to be retouched (however little) in the smallest degree, as it would be impossible to the [illegible deletion] Public would be sure to attribute any merit the plates may have, to this subsequent manipulation.

I am always very glad to hear the criticism remarks of a judicious critic – They are very likely to lead to improvements of the process – But some of the imperfections you speak of were caused, not by want of skill in the manipulation of the etching liquid by but by natural causes the natural certain photographic facts, which are unknown or unobserved in ordinary photography – Thus for instance the engravings often exhibit as you say a too strong contrast of light and shade – A photograph is copied has to be copied is copied representing a building illuminated by the Sun, and the resulting engraving offers a moonlight view of the same. This arises from the fact that the gradation of light and shade in the photogly phy phic engraving [illegible deletion] follows a different law from that of the original objects which it attempts to delineate represent.

For instance a band of paper graduated [illegible deletion] or shaded carefully from perfect whiteness at one end to perfect blackness at the other is represented in the engraving by a band changing much more suddenly from white to black; in fact, following a different law. The remedy is, doubtless in all probability to copy only from photographs in which the contrast of light and shade is much appears too feeble – It will then come right in the engraving –

The process as originally described and patented by me, often answers tolerably very well sufficiently well – but I found it deficient in certainty of result, (owing to the great delicacy of the process and great care consequently required) – The specimens I now send are done by a process somewhat different, which appears to give a much greater degree of certainty – in fact one that is practically sufficient. This is especially important in large plates for when those fail the expense of repolishing the plate is considerable – and time and money are wasted. This improved process of which I speak, cannot of course be communicated until secured by patent which I have now under consideration – [illegible deletion] I have no doubt of the eventual future utility of this invention but am not sure whether the small specimen work I am about to publish I am very much obliged to you for your offer of assistance. If any publisher of your acquaintce would like to make trial of my system, on a small scale, (say five or six plates of octavo size)

This circumstance precludes me from accepting any direct assistance in at present in making the engravings but any other kind of cooperation, would be valuable tending tending to the perfection of this new Art, would be valuable to me. If For instance if any publisher of your acquaintance would like to make trial of my system on a small scale, say eight or ten plates of octavo size for illustrating some a book of travels or any other kind of work, your knowledge of both photography and Engraving would enable you to select such views as would make good Engravings, and direct prevent all disappointment. Given the negative photographs (which I will suppose to be in the publishers hands) the first step is to make from them positive copies on glass, which must should not have lights and shades in too strong a contrast, but be undertoned (how much I can hardly say; it is a matter for careful experiment aided by a correct judgment) – It is true that positives on paper (or ordinary printed photographs) may be used, but the glass ones give much better engravings – Several London photographers can make them well in sufficient perfection. If the photographs were thus skilfully adjusted to the requirements of the new art, I should make much better Engravings from them which I think would be free from the faults you which exist at present –

---

Notes:

1. Thomas Brooker, engraver & printer, London.