Back in May BPH reported on the auction by Bonhams of the only known portraits of Ada Lovelace, comprising two daguerreotype portraits by Claudet from c1843 and a daguerreotype copy of a painting of Lovelace. The lot was withdrawn…

A blue plaque was unveiled by Perth Civic Trust at 62 Princes Street in Perth, Scotland to honour the local photographer, Magnus Jackson (1831-1891), at his former studio and shop, built in 1884. The plaque represents a growing recognition of Scotland’s rich contributions to the global history of photography. Magnus’s…

The Canadian Science and Technology Historical Association (CSTHA) has awarded its Jarrell Prize for the period 2022-2024 to Shannon Perry for “Perfect Dry Plates for Canada”: Gelatine Dry-Plate Manufacturing in Canada in the Late Nineteenth Century published in Volume 44, number 1, 2022, the…

BPH was saddened to learn this morning of the unexpected death of Martin Parr. Once described as 'Britain's best known photographer' Martin studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic in the 1970s and came into public consciousness with his seminal publication of colour photography The Last Resort concisting photographs made in New Brighton between 1983 and 1985. He joined Magnum as a full member in 1994, in the face of sustained opposition from traditionalists. Martin produced…

Lizzie Caswall Smith is the subject of a new blog post by Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms, as part of a series looking at stories about the history of Kilburn, Willesden, West Hampstead and other parts of London. Rooted in genealogical and local history research the blog adds new information to her story and corrects factual errors.

Read…

Throughout the year, NICAS organizes a bi-weekly Colloquium featuring short lunch lectures where researchers share updates, present new ideas, or discuss the outcomes of their work. The Colloquium aims to keep the field informed about the latest developments, foster the exchange of knowledge, and encourage collaboration.

Conservation scientists have studied daguerreotypes…

Piece against the forthcoming RSM sale... The Royal Society of Medicine is putting some of its rarest books and photographs up for sale at Christie’s this month. Is this a case of medical negligence?

Discover the untold story of seven remarkable sisters who helped shape the 19th-century cultural spirit. Step into the vivid, unconventional world of Women of Influence: The Pattle Sisters, an exhibition at Watts Gallery in Surrey.

This exhibition brings to life the legacy of seven extraordinary Anglo-Indian sisters whose influence rippled through the worlds of art, literature, photography, and society. Nicknamed “Pattledom” by the writer William Makepeace Thackeray…