{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1427517"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1427517/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1427517","accessionNumber":"RPS.3048-2017","objectType":"Camera","titles":[{"title":"Mousetrap camera","type":"generic title"},{"title":"Talbot camera no.3","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":"'Mousetrap' camera, wooden construction with single lens in a metal housing in the front panel. No back to the camera and side panels are slghtly loose, with a small piece missing from one of the side panels at the top rear corner.","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":"The Royal Photographic Society","id":"THES281081"},{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"DOP","id":"THES291628"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLF","id":"THES49656"},"free":"","case":"LNC","shelf":"SH","box":"3"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"camera","id":"AAT22636"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Lacock Abbey","id":"THES250694"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1835","earliest":"1830-01-01","latest":"1839-12-31"},"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":"73","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole object","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"58","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole object","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"99","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole object","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"65","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"internal body","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"48","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"internal body","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Mousetrap' camera, owned by William Henry Fox Talbot. Wooden construction with single lens in a metal housing in the front panel, 1835-1839 ","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"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&amp;A, acquired with the generous assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Art Fund\r\n","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["RPS.3048-2017"],"accessionNumberNum":"3048","accessionNumberPrefix":"RPS","accessionYear":2017,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Royal Photographic Society number","id":"THES275233"},"number":"4151"},{"type":{"text":"Science Museum Group accession number","id":"THES275235"},"number":"1928-676"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-27","recordCreationDate":"2017-12-22","availableToBook":false}}