TALBOT8120

<a virtually verbatim draft is in the collection of the Royal Photographic Society>

Lacock Abbey, Chippenham

June 13^th 1860

D^r Sir

Your letter though dated the 8^th inst. ¹ only reached here Yesterday. With your permission I will defer further consideration of the question of the zincography with reference to my patent, ² for a couple of months, for the reason that I am going to the Continent next week, or very soon afterwards, being one of the devoted band of astronomers and men of science who intend health permitting – to observe the eclipse of the 18^th July in the North of Spain –

From the particulars You mention in your letter of the present mode of engraving the Ordnance maps it results that the actual engraving is wholly done by hand – All that photography does for you is to trace out an outline which the engraver is to follow with his tool as closely as he can. But in a map 3 × 2 feet I think there must be some thousands of names and I do not see how these can be engraved by one man with less than several days labour. Consequently though I cannot estimate exactly the saving w^ch w^d be effected by the photoglyphic process, I perceive that it must be considerable.

I remain
Yours very Truly

H. F. Talbot

Co^l Sir H James &^c Southampton