TALBOT4577

Calotype as attempted @ S^t Andrews up to 15 August 1842¹

1^st The best of Whatman’s ² paper has been used

2^d– Chrystall^d– Nit-Silver 100 Grains in 6oz distilled water

3– Iodide of Potass^m. 500 Grains in 1 Pint D^o –

4– A Saturated Solⁿ– of Gallic acid

5– 100 Grains Chrys^d. Nit-Silver in 2oz distilled water & add to this Solⁿ– 2/3 of th Bulk of Acetic Acid –

6 Bromide of Potass^m.100 Grains to 8oz water

7 Nit Silver 80 Grains to 1oz water

8 Take 1 Part of a Sat^d. Solⁿ– of Salt to 8 Parts Water

The above are the ingredients used in the Process,, –

Manipulation 1 Spread the Paper with a Soft brush w^t No 2 Mixture Rubbing it in well & then dry it on a cloth over Stove in a dark Room.– 2 When dry, immerse the paper into Solⁿ. N^o 3 @ 65^o Temperature leaving it in 1 minute – if at 60^o leave it in 1¹/₂ minutes _“– Then plunge the paper into cold water & then into a second basin of clean water so as to Remove the Iodide Completely & finish drying with blotting paper & then expose it over the stove on the Cloth frames,, – N.B. I have always found it beneficial to expose the paper thus prepared to bright Sun light before using it & farther that the paper improves when Kept for a week or two ,, –

3 When about to use the paper the Galls Nitrate is prepared – we mix equal bulks of N^o 4 & 5 & add thereto a bulk of water equal to the volume mixed Solⁿ i.e.

20 Drops Nitrate

20 “ Gallic Acid 40 “ Water Then spread the Iodised paper by Gas Light w^t. this Galls Nitrate & after allowing it to Soak for ¹/₂ a Minute, blot it in Clean blotting paper & put it into the Camera. – 4 In clear Sunshine we find the time Req^d from 20” to 30” of the paper is good but never less. – 5 After withdrawing the paper from the Camera which has been used without any glass intervening – we use the Solⁿ– of Nit–Silver & Gallic Acid undiluted – we spread this over the picture & expose it to heat over a stove in a dark room

If the Picture does not come out Readily – we give another washing & a third if Required –,, –

Fixing Process

The Picture if worth preserving is then plunged into cold water & dried with blo^t paper, & then spread over with a Solⁿ– No6 then plunged again into water – blotted & dried,,

P.S

I have never succeeded in the process described by M^r Talbot of dipping the paper in Water after spreading with the Gallo Nitrate but have adopted in lieu thereof the diluted Galls Nitrate as above Mentioned ,, –

Thus ends the Negative Process

Positive Copies

Select good writing paper – dip it into a Sat^d. Solution of Salt & 8 parts water for a few seconds – & then use blot paper.–

When about to use this – wash it over with Solution N^o.7 & dry it at a stove or distant fire ,, –

The copies are exposed under glass to the Suns light in the usual way. –

When suffiecently done – they are washed in cold water. so as to take out the free Nitrate Silver – they are then blotted & Washed over with Solution No6

Again plunged in water & dried at the fire,, –

Finis

We cannot succeed by the above process either in obtaining a clear sharp picture (such as taken by M^r. Talbot) or of fixing them with any degree of permanency And

Humbly Pray for further information as a Reward for most laborious application & disapp^d. expectation for upwards of 12 Months,, –

H.L. Playfair

My Dear Sir David ³

If Your friend M^r. Talbot will condescend to peruse these notes & give us any new light on the Subject – we may go on … But with the present light we cannot advance one step & I Regret to say that the Daguerreotype must have infinitely the ascendancy unless this Art is more easily attainable – With the other I never have a single failure – with this I never have anything else

V s Y
HL Playfair