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Photograph (Salted Paper Print) of the Cape of Good Hope Observatory, by Charles Piazzi Smyth, February 1843

Inventory Number 11894

Item type
Object
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: '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: 'New buildings erected for the Magnetic Observations | near the R. Obsy C. of Good Hope.' [in Smyth's hand].
Physical material
Paper
Dimensions
Height: 75mm Width: 104mm
Inventory No
11894

Description

In MS Gunther 36, f.113r top, Hartwell House astronomical scrapbook, volume 2. Shows a shed with verandah right, a larger building with trellis verandah left, and indistinct buildings including a small pyramid-roofed instrument shelter centre. Very pale sepia, dark brown borders top and bottom. Slight damage from adhesive at left. The photograph at ff.114-115 captioned 'Magnetic Observatory buildings, erected 1842' is a better view of the same group of buildings. 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.

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