Journal of the Photographic Society of London, Volumes I and II
London: Taylor and Francis 1853-1856. Two volumes bound in one. [2-volume title page dated 1854], [231]-234 (index vol 1), [317]-320 (index vol 2), [1]-230 pages + [2-volume title page dated 1856], [1]-316 pages. 1/4 leather over cloth boards. Raised bands, spine labels. Some dampstaining to binding and first / last dozen or so pages. Page edges marbled, corners bumped. Otherwise clean internally. Occasional tear to paper edges (no loss of text). A sound copy. Includes issues No 1 (Mar 3, 1853) through No 39 (Feb 21, 1856) inclusive. Includes the useful volume indices, bound at the front. Volume title pages are dated the year after the last issue for that volume as normal - publishers would bind up extra issues at the end of the year, and offer in the following year so that new subscribers could "catch up". All issues are first printings. Separate issue wrappers, if issued, are not bound in. Very Good. Boards. [27976]
First published in 1853, the Journal of the Photographic Society of London is the oldest photographic journal in the world. Volumes 1-IV were published from 1853-1858. From Volume V (Jan 1859) to the present day the title became The Photographic Journal. The journal is quite scarce, with only 2000 copies printed of the first number of the journal even though the Society's membership was less than 100 in 1853. In 1854 the circulation increased rapidly, with various issues printed between 3000 and 4000 copies. In 1866 only 1500 copies were printed, and circulation declined further to 1000 copies in 1868. (See Gernsheim Incunabula of British Photographic Literature #984)
The journal is quite useful in that it gathers much of interest from all corners of the world - translations or english language summaries of foreign work, newly reported processes and developments. Some illustrations. The first two volumes (as here) are scarce in the marketplace.
Issues included: Vol 1: No 1, Mar 3, 1853; No 2, Apr 1, 1853; No 3, Apr 21, 1853; No 4, May 2, 1853; No 5, May 21, 1853; No 6, Jun 21, 1853; No 7, Jul 21, 1853; No 8, Aug 22, 1853; No 9, Sep 21, 1853; No 10, Oct 21, 1853; No 11, Nov 21, 1853; No 12, ,Dec 21,, 1853; No 13, Jan 21, 1854; No 14, Feb 21, 1854; No 15, Mar 21, 1854; No 16, Apr 21, 1854; No 17, May 20, 1854; No 18, Jun 21, 1854; No 19, Jun 30, 1854. Vol 2: No 20, Jul 21, 1854; No 21, Aug 21, 1854; No 22, Sep 21, 1854; No 23, Oct 21,, 1854; No 24, Nov 21, 1854; No 25, Dec 21, 1854; No 26, Jan 22, 1855; No 27, Feb 21, 1855; No 28, Mar20,1855; No 29, Apr 21, 1855; No 30, May 21, 1855; No 31, Jun 21, 1855; No 32, Jul 21, 1855; No 33, Aug 21, 1855; No 34, Sep 21, 1855; No 35, Oct 22,, 1855; No 36, Nov 21, 1855; No 37, Dec 21, 1855; No 38, Jan 21, 1856; No 39, Feb 21, 1856.
Price: $1,250.00