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Document number: 8076
Date: 12 Apr 1860
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: SHARP Thomas
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: Acc 21568 (envelope only)
Last updated: 26th March 2014

London. N. W<1>
Apr. 12. 1860

Sir,

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your note of yesterday together with three photoglyphic prints for which I really thank you very much.<2>

The specimens are very interesting & shew what science can effect ed in one sense without the intervention of Art.

My impression has been from the first that your object as you say was "to render Photoglyphic Engraving independent of ordinary Engraving". Still being aware, as I am, of the immense difficulty there is in obtaining in the first instance a perfect photograph, however perfect the next, or engraving process might be, it occurred to me that without some assistance from Art, in a commercial point of view, it was scarcely likely to be brought to bear.

I may be quite wrong, but you will pardon me, I trust, for this plain expression of opinion. There will be imperfections, no doubt, due to the Operator, but scarcely perhaps to be avoided & when this is taken into consideration with the imperfections to be found almost in every Photograph, the difficulties you have to contend with are very great.

Although in the prints now before me, the shadows are deep enough, yet artistically speaking, may I be allowed to say, the pictures are somewhat misty, or wanting in distinctness, clearness & middle tint – Greater depth & vigour seem to be required – The results are in these instances too much like what we might expect from a worn-out plate.

I shall indeed rejoice to hear of your complete success in this matter Already do I feel that science owes very much to your important discoveries & persevering labour.

but a word of mine could add to the fame you have yourself achieved.

In conclusion I regret that you are not likely, at present to bring the matter before the Public, & that you are still indisposed to let Art as Art have any thing to do with your Engraving.

Once more apologizing for my freedom I remain Sir, Yr mo. obed Ser
Thos Sharp

[envelope, annotated by WHFT "T. Sharp":]
H. Fox Talbot Eqre
Lacock Abbey
nr. Chippenham
Wilts:


Notes:

1. Presumably from 60, Albert St., Mornington Crescent, the full address that he had given two days earlier - see Doc. No: 08074.

2. Neither the note nor the examples have been located.

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