This etext was created by Gregory Walker, Austin, Texas, for the DigitalDaguerreian Archive Project.

Page numbers explicitly referred to inthe text are marked at their beginning by “[page ##]” on a separate line.I hope this etext inspires a wider interest in the origins of photography andin the modern practice of the Daguerreian Art.

[Updater’s note: In this version, the above page numbering convention hasbeen replaced by “{##}” sequences placed in line with the surroundingtext.]

AMERICAN HAND BOOK
OF THE
DAGUERREOTYPE

GIVING
THE MOST APPROVED AND CONVENIENT
METHODS FOR PREPARINGTHE CHEMICALS, AND
THE COMBINATIONS USED IN THE ART.

CONTAINING THE
DAGUERREOTYPE, ELECTROTYPE,
AND VARIOUS OTHERPROCESSES EMPLOYED IN TAKING
HELIOGRAPHIC IMPRESSIONS.

BY S. D. HUMPHREY

FIFTH EDITION

NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY S. D. HUMPHREY
37 LISPENARD STREET
1858

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858,
by S. D.HUMPHREY, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court
of theSouthern District of New York.

To J. GURNEY, WHOSE PROFESSIONAL SKILL, SCIENTIFIC ACCURACY,
ANDENERGETIC PERSEVERANCE, HAVE WON FOR HIM UNIVERSAL ESTEEM,
THIS WORKIS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED.

PREFACE.

There is not an Amateur or practical Daguerreotypist, who has not felt thewant of a manual—Hand Book, giving concise and reliable information forthe processes, and preparations of the Agents employed in his practice.

Since portraits by the Daguerreotype are at this time believed to be moredurable than any other style of “Sun-drawing,” the author has hit upon thepresent as being an appropriate time for the introduction of the FifthEdition of this work. The earlier edition having a long since been wholly;exhausted, the one now before you is presented.

The endeavor has been to point out the readiest and most approved Methodsof Operation, and condense in its pages; as much practical information asits limits will admit. An extended Preface is unnecessary, since the aimand scope of this work are sufficiently indicated by the title.

S. D. HUMPHREY NEW YORK, 1858.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

Polishing the Daguerreotype Plate—Buffing the Plate—Coating thePlate—Exposure of the Plate in the Camera—Position Developing theDaguerreotype—Exposure to Mercury—Removing the Coating—Gilding orfixing the Image—Coloring Daguerreotype, . . . . . 18

CHAPTER II.

Coloring Back Grounds—Transparent ditto—Gilding Dissolvent—Solution forremoving Specks—Solarized Impression—To Purify Water—CleaningMercury—Adhesive Paper—Black Stain for Apparatus—Sealing Wax forBottles—Rouge—Rotten Stone—Potassa Solution—HyposulphiteSolution—Substitute for do.—Gilding Solution—Solution for increasingthe Brilliancy of the Daguerreotype—Bleaching Solution;—ColdGilding—Neutralizing Agents—Buff Dryer—Keeping Buffs in order—CleaningBuckskins—Reflector for taking Views, . . . . 52

CHAPTER III.

Bromine and its Compounds—Iodine and its Compounds—Chlorine and itsCompounds—Cyanide of Potassium—Hyposulphite of Soda—Hyphosulphite ofGold—Nitric Acid—Nitro-Muriatic Acid—Hydrochloric

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