TALBOT7255

[draft:]

P. P.
April 27 /56

MDS/

I see y^t y h^ve lately made a v^y interest^g commⁿ to y^e S. of A. on y^e suj^t of Ph. G. gr^g It is with reference to this that I will h^ve ye honor t make t you a few obs^ns

I have not seen y^e spec^ns w^ch you show^d to y^e Soc^y of Arts but I have no doubt they were worthy of your well knⁿ talents & ingenuity

With regard to y^e process employ^d, so far as y^e same has bⁿ described in y^r commⁿ to y^e Soc^y of Arts perhaps you are not aware y^t I took out a pat^t in Nov^r /52 for y^e inventⁿ of making phot^c images or pictures upon surfaces coated with a mixture of gelat. & BC. P and after formatⁿ of y^e images developing or completing them s^ch images by immersion in water, with occasional use of alcohol &c &c.

As I underst^d that you have formed a company with the view of practically carrying out the Galv^oplastic art w^th reference to Photg^ry it appears to me, that you ought to take a license from me to use the above ment^d inventⁿ and I will thank you to bring mentⁿ this subject be to y^e gentⁿ who are associated with you in this Comp^y, request^g them to give their attentⁿ to it.

PS. my address is

[expanded version:]

Paul Pretsch
April 27, 1856

My Dear Sir

I see that you have lately made a very interesting communication to the Society of Arts ¹ on the subject of Photographic Engraving. It is with reference to this that I will have the honor to make to you a few observations.

I have not seen the specimens which you showed to the Society of Arts but I have no doubt they were worthy of your well known talents and ingenuity

With regard to the process employed, so far as the same has been described in your communication to the Society of Arts perhaps you are not aware that I took out a patent ² in November 1852 for the invention of making photographic images or pictures upon surfaces coated with a mixture of gelatine and Bichromate of Potash and after formation of the images developing or completing them such images by immersion in water, with occasional use of alcohol etc. etc.

As I understand that you have formed a company ³ with the view of practically carrying out the Galvanoplastic art with reference to Photography it appears to me, that you ought to take a license from me to use the above mentioned invention and I will thank you to bring mention this subject be to the gentlemen who are associated with you in this Company, requesting them to give their attention to it.

PS. my address is