- Subject
- Photography
- Item type
- Object
- Makers
- Charles Smyth
- Provenance
- Presented by Dr A. E. Gunther in 1986. Part of the collections of his father R. T. Gunther, founding Curator of the Museum, previously on loan to the Museum. R. T. Gunther purchased various Hartwell House manuscripts and books from the Hartwell House sales in 1939. The photograph was given to John Lee of Hartwell House by the photographer in 1843.
- Other inscriptions
- Manuscript heading on the album page at f.113r: 'Calotypes presented by Charles Piazzi Smyth | & prepared by himself --[long dash] Feby 1843' [2 altered at the time to 3; in Smyth's own hand]. Manuscript caption on the album page: 'R. Observatory --[long dash] Cape of G. H.' [in Smyth's hand].
- Physical material
- Paper
- Dimensions
- Height: 93mm Width: 122mm
- Inventory No
- 11894
Description
In MS Gunther 36, f.114r top, Hartwell House astronomical scrapbook, volume 2. Shows the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, with central classical portico, and chiefly the large, flat-roofed left wing with dome, seen from the left. Very pale sepia, dark brown border. One of five good and two decayed photographs contributed by Smyth to John Lee's astronomical scrapbooks. They are the earliest known photographs to have been taken in South Africa.
For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.
Related Items
More related items- Photograph (Salted Paper Print) of the Cape of Good Hope Observatory, by Charles Piazzi Smyth, February 1843Inventory Number 11894
- Photograph (Salted Paper Print) of the Cape of Good Hope Observatory, by Charles Piazzi Smyth, February 1843Inventory Number 11894
Photograph (Salted Paper Print) of the Cape of Good Hope Observatory, by Charles Piazzi Smyth, February 1843Inventory Number 11894- Photograph (Salted Paper Print) of the Cape of Good Hope Observatory, by Charles Piazzi Smyth, 1843Inventory Number 11894