!J C 13 ^
THE OXYMEL PROCESS IN
^i)otograpl)^
BY PHILIP H. DELAMOTTE F.S.A.
PROFESSOR OF DRAWING IN
LONDON
CHAPMAN AND HALL PICCADILLY
MDCCCLVI,
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2016
https://archive.org/details/oxymelprocessinpOOdela
THE OXYMEL PROCESS IN
PHOTOGRAPHY.
HE Oxymel Procefs, recently an-
nounced by Mr. Llewelyn, of
Penllergare, is undoubtedly the
molt valuable difcovery in the art
of Photography, that has been made lince
Mr. Scott Archer introduced Collodion.
By the help of Oxymel, all the beautiful
delicacy of the fineft Collodion pictures may
be obtained, with the convenience of the paper
procefs, and with much more certainty, and
much greater eafe.
Tourifts may take a dozen or two plates,
ready prepared, and during a week or a fort-
night may expofe them in the camera as they
may require, and in the evening or even in a
day or two afterwards may develop the pic-
tures they have obtained at their convenience.
4
The Oxymel Procefs
I may as well fiate at once, to remove any
mifapprehenfion, that I have tried this new
procefs myfelf many times ; that I have feen
others try it, and that if the necefiary pre-
cautions are obferved, it does not admit of
failure.
Mr. Llewelyn went through a courfe of
many hundred experiments before he arrived
at a fatisfadtory conclufion, and I am warranted
in faying, that little or no improvement can
be made on the exadt formula which he has
promulgated, and which under his inftruc-
tions I have myfelf been working with.
Although great care and great cleanlinefs
are necefiary to fuccefs in the ufual Collodion
procefs, it is indifpenfable that there be ftill
much more care and much more cleanlinefs
in the ufe of Oxymel. The leaf! decompo-
fition fet up while the plate is in the Aide,
or the leafi ray of light falling on the fenfitive
furface is wholly fatal. If the glafs be touched
by fingers contaminated with chemicals — if
the camera and the Aide be not perfedtly con-
Arudted — if the top of the Aide when the
Ai utter is raifed be not protedted from the _
light by a cloth — or in fadt if any one of the
in Photography .
5
ufual precautions be negledted — then the
chances are great that the operator will be
completely foiled, and that he will confe-
quently entertain a bad opinion of Oxymel.
Let fuch operator be allured that the fault lies
in himfelf, and not in the procefs.
Oxymel (o£vc acid, / ueXi honey'), for the
purpofe of Photography fhould be manufac-
tured of
Acetic Acid . . 7 fluid ounces,
Diftilled water . 8 flqid ounces.
Honey (defpumated) 5 pounds ;
Mix the Acid added to the water with the
Honey made hot.
It fhould be filtered till it is quite clear, and
free from any cloudinefs or fediment. It can
be obtained of molt Photographic Chemifts,
but feveral houfes* have undertaken to fup-
ply it in its purefl: poflible Hate, and from
the formula above given.
It will be better that I fhould defcribe the
exadt method of procedure from beginning
to end, and this will neceflarily include the
ordinary Collodion procefs.
* See advertifements at the end.
The Oxymel Procefs
PREPARATION OF THE
CHEMICALS, Etc.
The Nitrate of Silver Bath.
(30 grains to 1 oz. of water.)
O make a Bath fufficient for a plate
of glafs ten inches by eight, about
forty ounces will be needed.
Take
Nitrate of Silver oz.~[
Diftilled water 5 oz J
Take
Iodide of Potaffium 8 gr.)
Diftilled water \ oz J
Pour the Iodide into the Nitrate folution,
and fhake it until the precipitate (iodide of
in Photography .
7
filver) thus formed is entirely rediflolved.
Then add 34 oz. of diftilled water. Let it
ftand all night, and then add 2 drachms of
the beft alcohol. Filter it with prepared fil-
tering-paper, and the bath is then ready for
ufe. This folution, if kept quite clean, will
remain in good order for years. Whenever
it is not perfectly clear, it muft be again fil-
tered.
The Collodion.
I have not yet found any fuperior to that
made by Mr. R. Thomas. It is almoft in-
difpenfable that it fhould be iodifed (according
to the prefcribed form) at leaft two days be-
fore it is wanted for ufe. For landfcapes it
is better when a week old, and for copying
engravings when it has been iodifed for at leaft;
a month. I would recommend thofe who are
conftantly praftifing photography to begin by
buying two pints, and as foon as the firft pint
is exhaufted, to purchafe another, fo as always
to have a fupply in ftock that is not newly
made. Uniodifed collodion, like port wine,
is all the better for keeping, and by adopting
8
The Oxymel Procefs
ounces
my recommendation, a photographer may fave
himfelf much vexation.*
The Oxymel.
When wanted for ufe dilute it in this pro-
portion : —
Oxymel . tsaz.
--Diftilled water /^oz.
V
, HFilter it through fine blotting paper until
) the fyrup becomes perfectly clear.
<■ Ofoi $r2ttn
' ' ^e^tlution.
I cannot find any better proportions than
Pyrogallic Acid c grains 1 . ,
J. P, . . . . . , , mix and
Glacial Acetic Acid i drachm t r,
r^-n-n j filter
Dntuled water 2 oz. 1
When wanted for ufe mix in a 4 oz. glafs
meafure one-third of this folution with two-
thirds of filtered water, 'keeping the flronger
* My ufual plan is to iodife about 6 oz. of Collodion at
a time — I fhake it well and then ftand it afide for two or
three days, and for ufe pour about three or four ounces
into a fmaller wide mouthed bottle without difturbing
any fediment. There are obvious advantages in this plan.
in Photography .
9
folution in a large bottle for occafional ufe
when fome parts of the pidture, towards the
clofe of the developing, require more ener-
getic treatment.
The Fixing Solution.
I still adhere to a faturated folution of hypo-
fulphite of foda ; but I find many of my
friends ufe cyanide of potaflium (a molt deadly
poifon) in the following proportions : —
Cyanide of Potaflium io grains
Filtered water i oz.
B
1 o
The Oxymel Procej
THE GLASS PLATES.
T is befb to prepare a number of
glafs plates at once, but it muft
be borne in mind that ordinary
cleanfing will not fuffice. Take
half a dozen (or a dozen) glafles of good
quality, and with a piece of fand-ftone, — with
notch cut in it to the depth of the eighth of
an inch, — rough the furface of the glafs on
each fide to the fmallefi: pofiible extent all
round the edges. This is to caufe the col-
lodion to adhere more fecurely to the plate,
fo that in the repeated walhings it may not be
torn.
Make a folution of
Ammonias Liquor
Tripoli
Clean water
h oz- |
-t drachm mix
3oz. J
in Photography.
T I
and with a linen rag rub it hard over all the
plates and fet them afide. Then taking each
glafs in fucceffion dip it into a large bafin or
tray of water, and with a clean linen rag rub
off all the tripoli and fet the plate up to drain.
Repeat this a fecond time with the cleaned:
water and the cleaned: linen rag ; and as each
glafs is dipped, with a proper fupply of clean
linen cloth,* rub it quite dry and place it in the
plate box, at the bottom of which it is ad-
vifable to lay two or three folds of blotting
paper.
There are many fubftitutes for the ammonia
and tripoli fuch as pearl-afh, a weak folution
of cyanide of potadium, any of which will
anfwer the purpofe if the plates be well rubbed
with the detergent, and then well rinfed in pure
water as I have defcribed.
* Thefe cloths mull not be wafhed with foap.
I 2
The Oxymel Procefs
OXYMEL PROCESS.
Preparation of the Glafs Plate.
S I have before faid, it is beft to
prepare half a dozen or more
plates at a time, as they will keep
when coated with oxymel, for a
week or fortnight without any deterioration.
It is of the utmoft importance that the room
in which the following operations are per-
formed fhould be perfedbly clean and free
from any duft. The following preparations
will be needed : —
Nitrate of Silver bath.
Iodifed Collodion, at leaf! two days old.
Oxymel (diluted) in a gutta percha tray
a little larger than the glafs plate.
Diftilled water, an abundance of.
A fecond gutta percha or porcelain tray.
Blotting paper.
in Photography
*3
Lay a cleaned glafs-plate down on a flat
furface covered with a clean cloth, and with
a pneumatic holder, fuch as is now fold by
molt dealers* in photographic materials, take
it up, and with a filk handkerchief rub the
furface until a light breath upon it flies off in
a moment. Coat the plate with collodion in
the ufual way, but take care that the furface
is covered in every part ; if a corner be left,
water may get under the collodion and caufe
ferious inconvenience. As foon as the col-
lodion film is fet, plunge the plate into the
Nitrate bath ; and from this time take the
greatefl: care that no ray of light enters the
dark room. If the fun fhould fhine upon
the window, it is neceflary to fhade it with at
BOLTON
* See advertifements at the end.
i4
The Oxymel Procefs
leaft five or fix thicknefles of yellow calico ;
otherwife three are fufficient.
When the collodion plate has remained two
minutes in the Nitrate bath, raife it and lower
it till the furface is quite free from any ftreaky
appearance, and then allow the nitrate of filver
to drain off into the bath until it ceafes to
drip. Next lay the glafs plate, collodion-fide
upwards, in a tray of diftilled water, and let it
be for two or three minutes ; then pour off" the
water, repeat the wafhing, and drain the plate
pretty clofely. Tilt the tray containing the
oxymel with a wedge, lay the plate with its
back upon the tray, and at the fame moment
withdraw the wedge. This will caufe the
oxymel to flow over the furface in one even
wave, and this is of importance, as any uneven-
nefs would tend to fpoil the pidlure. Let the
plate lie in the oxymel for two minutes ; then
tilt the tray again, and with great care lift
in Photography .
the plate, and allow as much of the fluid to
run off as is convenient ; then fet up the plate
on a piece of blotting paper to drain ; and
when the next glafs is ready, remove it to a
fhelf lined with blotting paper, where it may
remain till all are prepared.
When all the plates have been thus treated,
and the lafl; has had fufficient time to drain,
place them in a plate box,* lined with blotting
paper at the bottom, and keep them where it
is utterly impoflible for light to get to them.'f'
* Mr. Ottewill has invented a very convenient dark
box, which will contain as many plates as are required ;
and which fits into the back of the Camera in fuch a way
that feveral piftures may be taken without the neceflity of
having any dark chamber. — See advertifement at end.
f Turn the plate box in fuch a way that the plates
lie on their backs, and take care the film is not torn in
putting them in or taking them out.
i6
The Oxymel Procefs
If all free nitrate of filver is wafhed off
the plates before they are immerfed in the
oxymel it will keep for a confiderable time,
and may be ufed over and over again. Should
the oxymel become much difcoloured, it would
be better to procure a frelh fupply.
Expofure in the Camera.
Collodion plates preferved with oxymel
have been kept for more than a fortnight, and
yet perfed pidlures have been obtained upon
them. At what time they would become
valuelefs, would depend, I apprehend, chiefly
on the ftate of the weather.
When wanted for ufe, great care muft be
taken that thofe parts of the camera-flide,
which the glafs plates touch, are well var-
nifhed ; and even then it would add to the
fecurity of the plate if fmall pieces of blotting
paper were fixed in the corners of the frame
in fuch a way that the glafles cannot touch
the wood in any part.
The time of expofure for an oxymel-plate
may be faid to be five times that required,
for the ufual collodion procefs. Dark obje&s.
in Photography.
l7
fuch as trees in the foreground, will want as
much as ten minutes’ expofure with a Rofs’s
Landfcape Lens, three inches in diameter with
a diaphragm of i of an inch. A houfe in fun-
lhine or a diftant landfcape will of courfe
require much lefs time : but as all Photo-
graphers well know, it is utterly impoffible
to lay down any certain rules. Every one
mull: be guided by experience.
Development of the Image.
The Oxymel plate may be developed at lei-
fure. It will keep good after expofure for
feveral days. Take great care that no white
light enters your dark room, and that it is not
dully.
Be careful not to break the edge of the
collodion film as you take out the plate. Lay
it on the levelling Hand and cover it well with
clean water, which may be immediately poured
off. Take the ufual llrength of developing
folution, add a few drops of Nitrate of Silver
from the Bath,* and mix it well ; pour this
evenly over the furface, and continue the de-
* It is better to keep a fmall bottle ready for this ufe.
c
The Oxymel Procefs
velopment for fome time longer than is ufual
with the ordinary procefs. The image ought
to appear as vigorous and intenfe as in a wet
collodion pidture taken under the fame cir-
cumftances.
Fixing the Image.
When the image is brought out enough, wafh
the plate freely with water, and fix it either
with a faturated folution of Hypofulphite of
foda, or Cyanide of Potaffium mixed in the
proportion of i o grains to an ounce of water.
When the Iodide of Silver is all dilfolved,
wafh the plate for fome two or three minutes
with an abundance of water, and fet it up to
drain upon a piece of blotting paper.
Varnifh in g the Plate.
When the film is perfectly dry, with a moifl:
cloth remove the edge of the film where the
glafs has been ground, for about one-eighth
of an inch all round and varnifh in the ufual
way. I prefer the French varnifh fold by
Gaudin and Co.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CANDLE-
LIGHT.
S many Amateurs in Photography
have but little fpare time during
the day in which they can pradtife
the various procefles, I think the
following fuggeftion may be found ufeful : —
Take three millboards, about twelve inches
high by nine inches wide, and cut out a large
piece, fay eight inches by five inches from
the centre of each. Lay all three boards clofe
together fide by fide, and having palled or
glued them well, cover them entirely with
20
The Oxymel Procefs
two thicknefles of yellow calico. Ornament
them in any way you pleafe on the other
fide. When fet up fo as to form a triangle
this makes a moft excellent Photographic
lantern* in which a candle may be placed, and
by the light of which all the manipulations of
the Oxymel procefs may fafely be conduced.
When not in ufe this lantern will fold up and
make a very good portfolio for paper, &c.
* Thefe lanterns are fold, ready made. — See adver-
tifement at end.
in Photography.
THE PRINTING PROCESS.
one of the Committee appointed
by the Photographic Society to
enquire into the belt method of
printing and preferving Photo-
graphs, I have lately devoted much attention
to the fubjeft. With the able afliftance of Mr.
Hardwich, the Committee have been enabled
to determine fatisfadtorily, that, by the ufe of
proper precautions, photographic prints may
be rendered quite as permanent as water-
colour drawings or copper-plate engravings.
Even thefe will become faded and difcoloured
if they are fubjedled to damp or the bright
glare of the fun, — and fo doubtlefs will the
belt printed photographs, — but no one ever
allows a valued drawing to be ferved thus, and
a photograph requires to be treated with the
fame care as a drawing.
22
The Printing Procefs
I adhere to three methods of printing, two
of which I have long praCtifed, and which
always give me fatisfaCtory refults, when I
take pains. I fay this, for I really find that
the fame watchful care is neceflary in the
printing of even one good impreffion, as is
wanted in the production of a firft-clafs nega-
tive.
On Albumenized Paper.
No better paper than Canfon’s has yet been
fupplied to photographers. I more frequently
ufe the thin fort, termed the “ Negative it
has a finer furface, gives brighter pictures, and
is lels expenfive, but it is more eafily torn.
To albumenize this paper, I find it ufually
more convenient to cut it in half.
Into a clean white bafin with a lip, put
Chloride of Sodium 200 grains^ ,
Diftilled Water 10 oz. J ° V
and add
Whites of frefh Eggs 10.
Beat this well up into a froth with a bunch
of quills or a wooden fork, then filter it
through a piece of fine muflin to get rid of
in Photography.
23
the fcum, and let it ftand for a few hours,
protected from duft, until it becomes per-
feiftly clear. When wanted for ufe, re-filter
as much as is required and pour it into a flat
porcelain difh, a little larger than the paper.
Look carefully through all the fheets of paper
you are about to albumenize, and with a pen-
cil mark the fmooth fide (all papers have
one fide fmoother than the other). Take
the paper fheet by fheet, fold back about a
quarter of an inch of one corner, and float the
fmooth fide upon the albumen, placing one
end of the paper on firft and gradually de-
prefling it until it all lies upon the albumen,
and taking great care to avoid air bubbles ; —
let it lie for a minute or two, until it becomes
perfectly flat, then raife it quickly by the
turned-up corner ; let the albumen drain off,
and then hang the paper up by two corners
in fome warm room to dry. When all the
fheets are albumenized, and all are perfectly
dried, place them evenly and carefully be-
tween two boards, lay a weight upon them,
and there let them be until they are wanted
for ufe. It is not neceflary to apply a heated
iron, as fome photographers recommend.
24
The Printing Procefs
1
I excite this paper by floating it, in the
ufual way, upon a bath confiding of
Nitrate of Silver 60 grains"),, n- .
Drilled Water i oz. jdlilolve-
This mull be done in a yellow light. Let the
paper (cut to the required fize) remain about
two minutes upon the bath, then drain it and
hang it up to dry by means of a wooden clip
holding it at one corner. If you are printing
extenfively,I would advife that trays be placed
under the paper to catch the Nitrate of Silver
that drips from them. I have found this a
great faving, efpecially when I have been
fenfitizing large fheets of paper. When the
folution of Nitrate of Silver has become dis-
coloured, it may be filtered through powdered
pipe-clay and reftored to its original clearnefs.
When dry, the paper is now ready for ex-
posure to light : — clean the glafs of the pref-
fure frame well upon both fides, and if you
are not provided with a pad of fmooth felt,
which I find the beft thing, fold a few Sheets
of blotting paper to nearly the fize of the
preflure frame glafs. Take out the back-
board, lay the negative, face upwards, upon
the glafs ; place the paper, albumenized fide,
in Photography.
25
upon it, cover thefe with the felt, and then
replace the back-board, and fcrew it evenly
till it is quite tight. It is now ready to be
expofed to the light, either in the fun or in the
fhade, according to circumftances. The pref-
fure frame fhould have a hinged back-board,
which allows you to look at one half of the
pidture without difturbing the other half ;
when the edges of the paper, which ufually
projedt beyond the negative, have become
darkened, examine the pidture to fee if it be
fufficiently printed ; if not, let it remain till it
alfumes a rather deeper tone than that you
would like. An under-expofed, or any weak
or thin-looking negative will print bell in the
lhade ; but it is difficult to give any precife rule
in this matter, it is better to try both ways.
When the pidture is fufficiently printed,
remove it carefully from the frame — for if
you pull it off violently, you will often fpoil
the negative — and place it in a colouring bath
made in the following way : —
f lypofulphite of Soda 8 oz. | ^jq'0jve
Clean Water . 8 oz. J
Chloride of Gold 8 grains
Clean Water . 6 oz. J
D
26
The Printing Procefs
Nitrate of Silver 60 grains 1 di{folve
Clean Water . i oz. j
Pour the folution of chloride of gold into
the hypofulphite, ftirring with a glafs rod all
the time, then add the nitrate of lilver.
Let the pidture lie in this bath, but move
it about conftantly, to avoid ftains and air-
bubbles, until it affumes the colour you like,
then place it for about ten minutes in a fixing
bath of
Hypofulphite of Soda 3 oz.
Clean Water . 16 oz.
and then if you are fortunate enough to be
able, lay it in a difh through which a ftream
of clear water can run for fix or eight hours.
If this cannot be managed, lay each print
feparately as it comes from the fixing bath
in a tray of clean water for five minutes, then
place it in a large and deep tray full of water,
to which other prints may be added. At
the end of an hour, pour off" the water to the
laft drop and refill the tray. Repeat this fix
or eight times during the next twenty-four
hours, taking care that the prints are con-_
ftantly moved about, and that they do not
in Photography.
27
flick to each other, and then, probably, all
the hypofulphite will have been wafhed out ;
but if you want to render your pictures per-
fectly permanent, I would advife you to treat
them as I did thofe which were reported upon
by Mr. Hardwich* to the Committee of the
Photographic Society. I have for a long
time been imprefled with a belief that fo long
as any of the fize remains in the paper, pho-
tographs will be liable to fade. Some three
years ago I tried the effeCt of pouring boiling
water j~ upon prints that had previoufly been
well wafhed, and in not one Angle inftance
have I known a photograph fo treated to
change colour afterwards in the leaft degree.
It is true that the boiling water fometimes
takes off the brightnefs of the picture ; but
if the picture has been well toned, this may
be reftored by ironing it while it is yet damp.
A little practice, with careful jotting down of
notes, will foon enable any photographer to
adopt this certain method of rendering his
pictures pleaflng and permanent.
* See Photographic Journal, No. 42.
t The prints fhould not be left in the boiling water
more than fix or eight minutes.
28
The Printing Procefs
By the Sel d’Or Procefs.
It is rather fingular, and not eafily accounted
for, that negatives which yield but indifferent
impreffions upon albumenized paper, will Jome-
times give quite good pictures by the Sel d’Or
procefs ; and, on the other hand, thofe which
are unpleafing by the Sel d’Or, will come out
vigorous and fine by the ufe of Albumen. I
have more than once aftoniftied friends by
printing their difcarded negatives in fuch a
way as to make them doubt if I had not
changed the glafs negative.
The Sel d’Or procefs is peculiarly adapted
to portraits and fome kinds of landfcapes, but
not to all. It requires much more careful
watching than the Albumen paper ; but if you
have a good negative to work with, it amply
repays the trouble.
The belt paper for this procefs is the Pa-
pier Saxe, or German Pofitive. It mud firft
be falted. Take
Chloride of Ammonium ioo gr.) .-a- i
Clean Water . . 8 oz J ° VC
Purified Gelatine . 1 6 gr.']J./r)
„7 ttt 8 diffolve -
Warm Water . . 2 oz.J
in Photography.
29
Mix thefe folutions, and float the paper
(flnooth fide) only fo long as is required to
caufe it to lie quite flat ; then hang it up to
dry. Any quantity of paper thus prepared
will keep good for any length of time.
Excite this paper on a 6o-grain folution of
Nitrate of Silver in the fame way as the Al-
bumen paper (fee page 24), and expofe it to
light in the preflure frame, but do not over-
print the picture one fhade deeper than that
you wifh for.
When the picture has been fufficiently
printed, put it in a difh and let a ftream of
water run over it for a few minutes ; this is
to remove the excefs of Nitrate of Silver ;
then place it in a bath of
Liquor Ammonias 1 dram.
Clean Water . 1 pint,
and let it remain there till it aflumes a flight
red tint (probably in about a minute). Wafh
the picture again in clear water till it ceafes
to feem of a milky hue, and then remove it
to the colouring bath made as follows : —
Chloride of Gold . 4 grains) ve
Clean Water . 8 oz. J
3°
The Printing Procefs
Hypofulphite of Soda 12 grain8') ^j^p0jve
Clean Water . 8 oz. J
Pour the folution of gold into the Hypo-
fulphite.
Watch the pi<5ture carefully while in this
bath, and in about ten or fifteen minutes it
will afliime a proper colour ; if it be left in
the bath too long the whites will turn yellow.
Wafh the pidture again for a minute, and
then immerfe it in a bath of fimple Hypo-
fulphite— 4 oz. to a pint of water, for about
ten minutes. Then wafh it in the ufual way,
and if you wifh it to be quite permanent, pour
boiling water upon it, as I have before re-
commended.
All the operations of this procefs are beft
conduced in a room lhaded from bright light.
By the Ammonio-Nitrate Procefs.
This procefs is perhaps not fo eafy as thofe
which I have juft defcribed ; but for fome
kinds of portraits, copies of engravings, &c.
it has its advantages. The beft paper to ufe _
is the Papier Saxe.
in Photography.
31
To fait the paper, take
Chloride of Sodium 20 grains.
Clear Water . . 1 pint.
Place this in a flat difh and immerfe the paper,
turn it over, and then hang it up to dry.
To make Ammonio-Nitrate of Silver, take
Nitrate of Silver i ao grains']
Diftilled Water . 2 oz. /
Add, drop by drop, good liquor Ammonias,
ftirring the folution continually with a glafs
rod until the precipitate which is formed is en-
tirely rediflolved. Do not add more Ammo-
nia than is juft fufficient to clear the folution.
When it is bright, add three or four drops
from your Nitrate of Silver bath, and then
filter. Ammonio-Nitrate thus prepared, if
kept from the light, will remain good for any
time.
To fenfitize the paper. Lay the fheet of
falted paper upon a board rather larger than
itfelf covered with blotting ; incline the board
gently, and with a large camels-hair brufh
(fold for this purpofe), cover the paper with
the folution of Ammonio-Nitrate, beginning
along the top and working downwards. Re-
32
The Printing Procefs.
peat this acrofs the paper, and take care that
it is evenly wetted all over. Let it lie for a
minute and then hang it up by a wooden clip,
in a darkened place, to dry.
In printing, expofe the paper thus prepared
until it affumes a dark flate-blue. Fix and
colour it in the fame way as Albumenized
paper, and pay great attention to the walking.
To Mount Photographs.
I find nothing better than a folution of good Gela-
tine or Gum Arabic, fuch as is ufually fold at the
Druggifts. It muft be mixed nearly of the confift-
ency of honey, and laid on to the back of the Pho-
tograph as evenly and lightly as poffible, and then
applied to the mounting-paper or cardboard dire£tly,
and rubbed down well with a piece of blotting-paper
over it. Jt fhould then be placed under a weight
and allowed to remain fome hours.
If the Gum be thin, it will perhaps run through
the paper, and tend to curl the mounting-paper or
board.
C. WHITTINGHAM, TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE.
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