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V4 2001 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 4, Number 35, August 26, 2001, Article 11 EARLIEST USE OF PHOTOS IN A NUMISMATIC BOOK? Hadrien Rambach writes: "Jean-Baptiste GIARD wrote this in an article : "La bibliothèque de Carcassonne possède un ouvrage de l'abbé L. VERGUET, Photographie appliquée à la numismatique. Monnaies romaines. Monnaies consulaires et des familles romaines..., Carcassonne, 1864, illustré de nombreuses photographies. L'auteur [...] s'est contenté de coller directement de simples photographies dans le texte." (Carcassonne's library owns a book by the abbot L. VERGUET, photographie appliquée à la numismatique. Monnaies romaines. Monnaies consulaires et des familles romaines..., Carcassonne, 1864, illustrated with many photographs. The author [...] simply glued real photographs in the text.) ("Critique de la science des monnaies antiques", in "Journal des Savants", juillet-septembre 1980, pp. 225-245) If it is not the very first one, it is undoubtedly one of the earliest." The same topic prompted Karl Moulton to write: "Although not directly related to numismatics, it may be of interest to our readership to know that the earliest surviving photograph ever taken in America was taken from the second floor of the second United States Mint building by Mr. Joseph Saxton (Mint service 1837-1843). Saxton, one of the unsung mechanical engineers at the Mint, had read about Frenchman Louis Daguerre's stunning photographic results in the summer of 1839 and decided to try his luck, especially since he had all of the necessary materials and chemicals at his disposal. In October of 1839, Saxton pointed an unknown camera device from his workshop window toward the original Central High School for Boys, and the Pennsylvania State Arsenal, which were located across the street in Center (now Penn) Square. After developing, the image was rather small and fuzzy; but, nonetheless, it was a recognizable one. This Daguerreotype is housed in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and is plated in the very interesting 1976 book "OLD PHILADELPHIA IN EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS 1839-1914", by Robert F. Looney. This volume has been a valuable addition to my reference library; and yes, it does contain pictures of the first and second U.S. Mint buildings. I might add that it really brings home the daily living conditions around Philadelphia during the 19th century, and it makes the remarkable craftsmanship of the workers at the Mint that much more amazing." Moulton adds: "As to Mr. Graver, I believe he is on the wrong subject. He should be researching people like Robert Scot, William Kneass, Christian Gobrecht, James Longacre, etc. He's a natural with a name like "N. Graver"

Wayne Homren, Editor

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