William Henry Fox Talbot

salt print, '164' in pencil and 'LA225' in ink on the reverse, framed, Joy of Giving Something collection labels on the reverse, circa 1845

Lacock Abbey Collection

Robert Hershkowitz Ltd., Sussex

Lee Marks Fine Art, Shelbyville, Indiana, 1991

John Ward and Sara Stevenson, Printed Light: The Scientific Art of William Henry Fox Talbot and David Octavius Hill with Robert Adamson (Edinburgh: Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1986), p. 81

Grading this striking, early salt print on a scale of one to ten – a ten being a print that has rich brown dark tones, creamy highlights, and retains all of its original detail – this print rates a strong 10. It has deep, chocolate-red dark tones and crisp, creamy highlights. The image delivers an exceptional level of detail, from the lace-like network of individual branches of the great oak, to the wispy, barren trees in the background, to the stone wall in the lower left corner. This print, from the dawn of photography, is essentially pristine. It has full, wide margins whose color matches the darkest tones of the print. The thin white area along the upper left margin edge was not originally covered with emulsion. There is some uneven coloration in the margins, which appears to be from processing and does not in any way affect the image. The edge of the paper is rough along the left edge. No watermark can be read in the paper.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

‘. . . how charming it would be if it were possible to cause these natural images to imprint themselves durably, and remain fixed upon the paper!  And why should it not be possible?’

William Henry Fox Talbot, 1844