Bound presentation album by Anna Atkins and Anne Dixon containing 74 original cyanotypes of botanical, feather, and textile specimens. Images depict algae, ferns, flowers, seaweed, and other plants; feathers from birds such as the peacock, emu, partridge, and duck; and needlework. The majority of the photographs include handwritten captions reproduced by cyanotype that identify plants by their Latin name or location, feathers by the English name of the bird, groups of specimens by the type of material depicted, and other descriptors. Locations outside of Britain mentioned in captions include Ceylon, South America, and Jamaica. The album is bound in brown cloth with yellow endpapers, gilt edges, and a gilt spine title
Description:
Anna Atkins (1799-1871) was an English botanist and photographer. In 1825 she married John Pelly Atkins. Between 1843 and 1853 she privately published three volumes of Photographs of British Algae, considered to be the first book illustrated with photographs. She and Anne Dixon were close friends and collaborators., Anne Dixon (1799-1864) was an English botanist and photographer. She was raised by John George Children, father of Anna Atkins, and in 1837 married Henry Dixon, who became vicar of St. Andrew's church in Ferring. She and Anna Atkins were close friends and collaborators. She was the aunt of Captain Henry Dixon., Captain Henry Dixon (1824-1883) was the nephew of Henry and Anne Dixon. In addition to serving in the Madras Infantry in John Company's Army (East India Company), Dixon was an accomplished amateur photographer., Captions in Latin and English., Inscription on front free endpaper: "Captain Henry Dixon with his Aunt Henry's kind love -- Ferring Vicarage, June 21, 1861.", Title from spine of album., and Date estimated from pages watermarked "J. Whatman Turkey Mill" and dated 1845, 1851, and 1856, as well as the date of the inscription to Captain Dixon.
Subject (Topic):
Algae, Blueprinting, Feathers, Needlework, Plants, and Marine algae
