{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1427516"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1427516/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1427516","accessionNumber":"RPS.3047-2017","objectType":"Camera","titles":[{"title":"Calotype camera, owned by William Henry Fox Talbot","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Talbot was the British inventor of  photography. In 1834 he discovered  how to make and fix images through  the action  of light and chemistry on  paper. These ‘negatives’ could be  used to make multiple prints. This  revolutionised image  making.\r\n\r\n\tTalbot excelled in many fields,  including mathematics, optics,  botany and  chemistry. However, it  was his inability to  master drawing  outdoors that prompted him to  experiment with capturing  images  inside a camera. He published his   photographic discoveries and ideas,  illustrated with original photographs,   in his book The Pencil of Nature.  Talbot  patented his negative  photographic process, which he  called the ‘calotype’, in  1841. Later,  he pioneered  photographic engraving  – printing photographs in ink. His  processes became the basis of   virtually all subsequent  photography.","physicalDescription":"Calotype camera, wooden construction with a metal lens housing on the front panel with a hole above and to the side of the lens for viewing the negative during focusing. The single uncorrected lens slides in a sleeve for focusing, and has a fixed aperture of about f/3. With a removable wooden back, with adjustable tabs to allow it to be attached to the camera body.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"optical glass","id":"AAT10877"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Cameras","id":"THES280056"},{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"The Royal Photographic Society","id":"THES281081"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"DOP","id":"THES291628"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLF","id":"THES49656"},"free":"","case":"LNC","shelf":"SH","box":"3"},{"current":{"text":"LVLF","id":"THES49656"},"free":"","case":"LNC","shelf":"SH","box":"3"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"camera","id":"AAT22636"}],[{"text":"backs","id":"AAT190692"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Lacock Abbey","id":"THES250694"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1839-1848","earliest":"1839-01-01","latest":"1848-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"120","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole camera","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"120","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole camera","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"222","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole camera","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"157","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"camera body","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"64","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"lens housing","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"110","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"inner body","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"110","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"inner body","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"110","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"camera back","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"110","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"camera back","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"13","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"camera back with adjustable tabs","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"9","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"camera back without adjustable tabs","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'2970'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On a white sticker in black ink on the side panel at the rear of the object."},{"content":"'1928-679'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Painted in white on the top panel at the rear of the object."},{"content":"'B'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"In pencil on camera back"},{"content":"'2970'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On a white sticker in black ink on the camera back."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Calotype camera belonging to William Henry Fox Talbot, made between 1839 and 1848. Wooden construction with a metal plate and lens housing on the front panel with a hole above and to the side of the lens for viewing the negative during focusing. The single uncorrected lens slides in a sleeve for focusing, and has a fixed aperture of about f/3. The camera has a removable wooden back, with adjustable tabs to allow it to be attached to the camera body. The camera would take paper negatives of approximately 4 3/8 inch square.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Talbot, William","id":"A15794"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>Photography Centre 2018-20:</b>\n\nWilliam Henry Fox Talbot (1800–77) \r\n\r\nTalbot was the British inventor of photography. In 1834 he discovered how to make and fix images through the action of light and chemistry on paper. These ‘negatives’ could be used to make multiple prints. This revolutionised image making.\r\n\r\nTalbot excelled in many fields, including mathematics, optics, botany and chemistry. However, it was his inability to master drawing outdoors that prompted him to experiment with capturing images inside a camera. He published his photographic discoveries and ideas, illustrated with original photographs, in his book The Pencil of Nature. Talbot patented his negative photographic process, which he called the ‘calotype’, in 1841. Later, he pioneered photographic engraving – printing photographs in ink. His processes became the basis of virtually all subsequent photography.\r\n\r\nYou can see how calotypes are made in the ‘Dark Tent’ film room in Room 99.\r\n\r\nThe Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Art Fund\r\n","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["RPS.3047-2017","RPS.3047:2-2017"],"accessionNumberNum":"3047","accessionNumberPrefix":"RPS","accessionYear":2017,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Royal Photographic Society number","id":"THES275233"},"number":"2970"},{"type":{"text":"Science Museum Group accession number","id":"THES275235"},"number":"1928-679"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-27","recordCreationDate":"2017-12-22","availableToBook":false}}