(Paris: J.-J. Dubochet et Ce., 1844).

FIRST EDITION. VERY RARE IN THE ORIGINAL WRAPPERS, THIS COPY IN FULLY ORIGINAL STATE AND LARGELY UNOPENED. ARGUABLY THE FIRST DEFINITIVE MANUAL OF PHOTOGRAPHY. Marc-Antoine Gaudin's full and complete treatise on the Daguerréotype process was at the time the definitive manual on photography and covered virtually every aspect of making both Daguerréotype and the Calotype developed by Talbot. Includes the preparation of plates and their exposure, processing, printing on paper, procedures for reproducing plates, techniques for portraiture, etc., etc. Marc-Antoine, with his brother Alexis, were important early pioneers in the business of photography and were responsible for numerous refinements. He held patents in both optics and chemistry and had one of the first photography shops in Paris. Marc-Antoine engaged in research while Alexis was in charge of commercial affairs. In 1851 he purchased the photo-newspaper La Lumiere, which he ran until 1867. The Gaudin brothers also set up a stereoscopy company in the United States. Item #29058

Very scarce first edition. 8vo, in the publisher's original yellow paper wrappers printed in black. Now housed in an unusual and very attractive black protective box with Plexi protector, the lid held in place by stiff panel decorated with an sepia photograph visible through a port. iv, 248 pp. A rare first edition copy in fully original state and in the printer's delicate wrappers, the text largely unopened and quite fine but for some very minor spotting or mellowing, the wrappers with some soiling and wear but completely original and unsophisticated, the spine largely worn.