SAXTON'S 1839 PHOTO FROM THE U.S. MINT

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The E-Sylum: Volume 26, Number 45, November 5, 2023, Article 22

SAXTON'S 1839 PHOTO FROM THE U.S. MINT

The earliest known photograph taken in the U.S. has a connection to numismatics. We've discussed this before, and a new article from Philadelphia highlights the pioneering photography of U.S. Mint engineer Joseph Saxton. The historic artifact is in the collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. -Editor

The photo was taken in 1839 by Joseph Saxton, an engineer and watchmaker with an inventing process with ties to Philadelphia.

Among his inventions include a device for measuring ship velocity, another for measuring water in a steam boiler, a prototype for the foundation pen, and a tide gauge believed to be the first device to register an earthquake.

While working for the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, Saxton took a cigar box and glass lens in his office and created an early version of a camera.

That image is widely considered the oldest surviving photo in the United States.

To read the complete article, see:
Philadelphia is Home to the Oldest Photo Still in Existence (https://bucksco.today/2023/11/philadelphia-oldest-photo/#)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
EARLIEST USE OF PHOTOS IN A NUMISMATIC BOOK? (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v04n35a11.html)
JOSEPH SAXTON'S 1839 PHOTO FROM THE U.S. MINT (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n35a16.html)
MORE ON SAXTON'S 1839 PHOTO FROM THE U.S. MINT (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n36a13.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum

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