Noël

1843 · 54394 — Paris: N.-P. Lerebours 1843. Fourth edition. 8vo. vi 203 pp. folding engraved plate plus 14 pp. catalogue possibly lacking a terminal leaf. Publisher's original printed blue wrappers which are chipped at the spine ends and have a 3-inch separation along the front joint. There is scattered foxing to the text and engraved plate with one leaf of the catalogue crudely opened. On the upper tip of the front wrapper the author has signed and inscribed "Hommage l'auteur N P Lereboures." A very good moderately worn presentation copy. N.P. Lerebours is most noted for his publications EXCURSIONS DAGUERRIENNES 1841-1844 the first large-scaled publication illustrated from photographs as well as for his manufacture of apparatuses of which he was among the first. <br /> <br /> In this work he discusses the underlying theory of the photographic process and the numerous practical methodologies of the day. Largely concerned with the daguerreotype with a compilation of writings by the inventors or practitioners themselves - the list of reads as a European directory of the most famous of the period. There are sections on the galvanographic process to make prints from daguerreotypes and the gravure process of Fizeau. Although stated as the fourth edition it should be referred to as the fourth enlarged and revised edition; his earlier publications had various other titles and were less than half the length of this work. The appended priced catalog lists all manner of photographic apparatus. There are several pages concerned with his publication EXCURSIONS DAGUERRIENNES and the various contents that could be ordered. <br /> <br /> In Catalogue 52 Commemorating the Centenary of Fox Talbot and Daguerre 1839 - 1939 E. P. Goldschmidt called this "the first standard hand-book of photography." WorldCat locates eight copies in European libraries with a single North American copy held by the University of Ottawa. Roosens and Salu No. 2842. Bellier de la Chavignerie Manuel Bibliographie du Photographe Francais 1863 No. 18. N.-P. Lerebours unknown