The Photographic Literature of To-Day, Dedicated to the Fraternity by Richard Walzl, Proprietor of The National Library of New, Sound and Practical Educational Works on the Art Photographic
Baltimore: 1880.
First Edition. Softcover. Fair. 4.25" x 5.5", pp 42, [2], in original sewn wrappers. Fair to good condition only, as it appears to have narrowly escaped a fire. Charring and some loss to wrappers, browning to fore edge of all pages, only reaching text on two pages and not affecting readability. Raised in a family of professional photographers, Walzl opened his own studio in Baltimore in 1860, at the age of 17. He found quick success as a photographer and publisher of ambrotypes, cabinet cards, stereo cards, and cartes des visites. After the Civil War, he expanded his business and became a leading purveyor of photographic supplies, equipment, and literature at his National Photographic Emporium and Publishing House, which opened in 1872. This booklet offers thoughts on the importance of photographic literature, a lengthy section promoting Walzl's journal, Photographic Rays of Light (with details on the contents of each issue and several dozen testimonials), and thorough descriptions of 10 books offered for sale. These include works on portrait photography, posing and lighting, coloring photographs, dry plate photography, ferrotypes, and printing, as well as a handbook of photographic terms. OCLC locates no copies; one copy of a much shorter (8 pp) 1882 edition.
Item #15190
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