TALBOT5010

Chippenham ¹
1 June 1844

Dear Sir,

Annexed is a copy of a Letter which I have this morning received from M^r Collen ², for your perusal.

I am Dear Sir Your obliged & obed Serv^t
West Awdry.

H. F. Talbot Esq

[copy of letter from H. Collen to W. Awdry]

(Copy)

29 Somerset Street
May 30 1844

Dear Sir

As I am doing really next to nothing with the Calotype and have not the means of making a positive impression on the public by advertizing which I am fully aware is the only mode by which a business can be made of the art I wish to offer as a proposition to M^r Talbot the question as to whether he will think it advisable on his part to expend any certain sum on advertizements £50 or from that to £100 would I have no doubt even at this advanced period of the Season give a good return and in the event of its being so I should be happy to bear a fair share of the expenditure; but if something of this sort is not done it is very clear that as far as I am concerned at least calotype portraiture will fail as a profitable affair; nor do I perceive that any one else is attempting the practice of it – I am induced to request you to mention this to M^r Talbot from my being aware that he does not hesitate to enter into expences to forward his views in relation to Calotype and think that you will consider this as likely a mode as any to produce a return – Two or three months is all we can reckon upon for the season in London so that if M^r Talbot is inclined to entertain this view of the subject it should be decided on quickly – I have advertizements ready for insertion and would undertake the sending of them to the various papers and account to you by the vouchers for £10 at a time if you transmit it to me.

If I have not more sitters this month than during the two last I shall not have had so many this Quarter as the last and as almost every portrait I take gives satisfaction I cannot suppose the small number to arise from any thing but the want of its being made known which I have not the means of doing

I remain Dear Sir Yours truly
Henry Collen

West Awdry Esq

Envelope:

H. F. Talbot Esq^r
31 Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London