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

Inventory Number 11894

Acknowledgement: © History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, inv.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: 'Front of the R. Observatory, Cape of G. H.' [in Smyth's hand].
Physical material
Paper
Dimensions
Height: 91mm Width: 115mm
Inventory No
11894

Description

In MS Gunther 36, f.113r bottom, Hartwell House astronomical scrapbook, volume 2. Shows the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, with central classical portico, tower, and two large, flat-roofed side wings each with a dome, seen from slightly below and to the right. Sepia, darker sepia border, the bottom border showing the apparently crumpled bottom of the negative. Damaged along left side from adhesive, and top right corner torn. 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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