[Manuscript Letter from W. H. Fox Talbot to Antonio Bertoloni] 1839

This is a manuscript letter from W. H. Fox Talbot to Antonio Bertoloni, created in June 1839. It offers us a glimpse into the world of 19th-century scientific correspondence. Talbot, a pioneer of photography, writes to Bertoloni, an Italian botanist, to share his new invention, which he refers to as "dessins photogéniques." The letter reveals the intersection of science and art during this period. Talbot believed that his photogenic drawings would be of great use to botanists, especially those made with a solar microscope. He writes of magnifying images 100 times on a large surface. This highlights the excitement surrounding new technologies and their potential applications. Talbot's closing request to Hammersley, a banker in London, to pay a debt to Bertoloni's correspondent in Bologna, reminds us of the personal and financial networks that underpinned intellectual exchange. The letter is a reminder of the collaborative and interconnected nature of scientific discovery.