THE HISTORY AND PRACTICE OF THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY;
OR THE PRODUCTION OF PICTURES THROUGH THE AGENCY OF LIGHT.
CONTAINING ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY FOR THE COMPLETE PRACTICE OF THE DAGUERREAN AND PHOTOGENIC ART, BOTH ON METALIC, PLATES AND ON PAPER.    By HENRY H. SNELLING.


New York:  PUBLISHED BY G. P. PUTNAM, 155 Broadway, 1849.
Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1849, by H. H. Snelling, in the Clerk's office, of the District Court of the Southern District of New York.

New York:  PRINTED BY BUSTEED & McCOY, 163 Fulton Street.

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PREFACE.

The object of this little work is to fill a void much complained of by Daguerreotypists--particularly young beginners.

The author has waited a long time in hopes that some more able pen would be devoted to the subject, but the wants of the numerous, and constantly increasing, class, just mentioned, induces him to wait no longer.

All the English works on the subject--particularly on the practical application, of photogenic drawing--are deficient in many minute details, which are essential to a complete understanding of the art. Many of their methods of operating are entirely different from, and much inferior to, those practiced in the United States: their apparatus, also, cannot compare with ours for completeness, utility or simplicity.

I shall, therefore, confine myself principally--so far as Photogenic drawing upon metallic plates is concerned--to the methods practiced by the most celebrated and experienced operators, drawing upon French and English authority only in cases where I find it essential to the purpose for which I design my work, namely:  furnishing a complete system of Photography; such an one as will enable any gentleman, or lady, who may wish to practice the art, for profit or amusement, to do so without the trouble and expense of seeking instruction from professors, which in many cases within my own knowledge has prevented persons from embracing the profession.

To English authors I am principally indebted for that portion of my work relating to photogenic drawing on paper. To them we owe nearly all the most important improvements in that branch of the art.  Besides, it has been but seldom attempted in the United States, and then without any decided success. Of these attempts I shall speak further in the Historical portion of this volume.

Every thing essential, therefore, to a complete knowledge of the whole art, comprising all the most recent discoveries and improvements down to the day of publication will be found herein laid down.

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This etext was created by Gregory Walker, in Austin, Texas, for the Digital Daguerreian Archive Project -- electronic texts from the dawn of photography. gwalker@netcom.com 

Specoially edited and formatted for the Newton eBook platform by Matt Kowalczyk.