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History of Science Museum

Photograph (Collodion Positive on Glass) of William John Minn, by James Minn, February 1860

Inventory Number 28296


Item type
Object
Provenance
Presented by Henry Minn in 1928. The subject is his grandfather and the photographer his father.
Primary inscriptions
Manuscript label bound within cover glass: 'Wm. John Minn of East Dereham, Co. Norfolk. | photo by his son Feb. 1860.'.
Other inscriptions
Manuscript label on back: 'Collodion positive on glass. Taken | [with deleted] by Jas. Minn's lens of 1859. | Pres. by H. Minn.' [in R. T. Gunther's hand].
Physical material
Glass
Paper
Dimensions
Height: 104mm Width: 85mm
Inventory No
28296
Accession Number
1928-73

Description

Collodion positive on glass (ambrotype), rebound by the donor with passe-partout binding and black backing paper, in the manner of a lantern slide. Portrait of William John Minn, head and shoulders, facing left, his eyes closed. Vertical format. Quarter-plate (approximately 4¼ by 3¼ inches). The detail is unusually good for a collodion positive. Gunther's 1928 inscription implies there was something special about the lens used. Companion of 42994, where his eyes are open; see also 15392.