William Henry Fox Talbot

(London, 1845), a book illustrated with 23 salt prints from calotype negatives, on mounts with hand-ruled borders, each plate numbered in ink on the mount, 1844. 4to, gilt-lettered mauve cloth with a gilt-decorative cartouche, stamped 'A Tarrant Binder Great Queen St' on the front pastedown, with the title page and plate list, lacking the 'Notice to the Reader' (NYPL 2; Truthful Lens 161; Gernsheim 7)

This rare early volume appears as expected and is in generally good condition. As is usual, the strength and richness of the individual plates varies, from nearly completely to only partially faded. The uneven quality of the plates in almost all copies of the Sun Pictures often corresponds to the varying locations in which the pictures were made. The best photographs are usually those taken around Edinburgh and Abbotsford, where Talbot could use freshly sensitized paper, in controlled circumstances. The more remote rural views frequently are the weakest, for Talbot was forced to pre-sensitive his paper and carry it for hours, over many miles in those instances. The list of plates is as followed: 1. Heriot's Hospital, Edinburgh. 2. Sir Walter Scott's Monument, Edinburgh; as it appeared when nearly finished, in October 1844. 3. Abbotsford. 4. Entrance Gate, Abbotsford. 5. Hall Door, Abbotsford. 6. Effigy of Sir W. Scott's favourite dog Maida, by the side of the hall door at Abbotsford. 7-9. Melrose Abbey. 10-12. Loch Katrine. 13. The Tomb of Sir W. Scott, in Dryburgh Abbey. 14. Highland Hut on the banks of Loch Katrine. 15-17. Scenery of Loch Katrine. 18. The Castle of Doune. 19. The same seen from the other side. 20. A Mountain Rivulet which flows at the foot of Doune Castle. 21-23. Melrose Abbey. The mounts have fox marks that extends to the prints and are age-darkened along the right edge. They also have some faint dark deposits that could be due to handling. The maroon cloth cover is unevenly faded along the edges. The corners are worn and the spine is split at the joints with some attendant flaking. The bending glue has perished. The title, plate list, and individual plates are loose. The front matter is soiled, age-darkened, and foxed overall.
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.

Published in 1845, William Henry Fox Talbot’s Sun Pictures in Scotland is widely recognized as the first photographically illustrated book completed for public sale.  Issued between the fourth and fifth installments of Talbot’s Pencil of Nature, the edition size of Sun Pictures was quite small.  Unlike The Pencil of Nature, it was not available through booksellers but rather through subscription.  The list of subscribers comprised approximately 100 names, the first being Queen Victoria. 

Sun Pictures in Scotland depicts Talbot’s travels through the region in October 1844, inspired by the life and writings of Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832).  The 1830s and 1840s was a period of intense interest in the Scottish poet. The 200-foot-high Scott Monument in Edinburgh was nearly completed when Talbot photographed it, and he included it as the second plate in Sun Pictures.

The uneven quality of the plates in most copies of Sun Pictures is likely due to the unfavorable environmental conditions in which they were made, and many prints likely started deteriorating immediately.  According to Talbot scholar Larry J. Schaaf, fewer than 25 copies of Sun Pictures in Scotland are believed extant.  Schaaf locates at least nine in institutional collections, including The J. Paul Getty Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The New York Public Library, and The University Library, St. Andrews.  Only a handful of copies have appeared at auction since 1970.