Antique & Scientific Instruments U.K. |
MICROPHOTOGRAPHS
BACKGROUND
Much of what can be said about Dancer's microphotographs appears in the book “The Microscopic Photographs of J.B.Dancer” by Bracegirdle & McCormick. This book is an excellent reference source for collectors of these slides as it catalogues all the known examples when it was first published. However, that was more than 25 years ago and some discrepancies have arisen since, as more physical evidence has come to light over the years. Also, be aware of errors made (by Dancer?) in the original numbering of the slides. For example, in my modest collection, I have 2 different slides numbered JBD 28. One is The Creed and the other is of Wellington. The book refers to The Creed as 28 and Wellington as 48 (on Dancer's original list) but the slide illustrated in the book at 48 is actually numbered 28.
So far, I have collected many of Dancer's microphotographs and quite a few by others, some with a yellow label (pretending to be by Dancer?), some supplied by Dancer and relabelled by the retailer and some clearly prepared by others.
THE MICROPHOTOGRAPHS
By J.B.Dancer – For a more comprehensive description of these microphotographs, please refer to the above mentioned book. If you don't have a copy, just let me know and I will do my best to find one for you.
No.2 Lieut.Col. Dickenson's Tablet
retailed by Mason of Dublin
retailed by Mason of Dublin
No.15 Deer Stalkers Returning – listed as No.34 in Dancer's original list and Suter's list but clearly labelled No.15 on this retailed by Steward of London
No.26 The Lord's Prayer, Illuminated
slide damaged but photograph still intact.
No.28 Wellington - listed as no. 48 in Dancer's original list but clearly numbered 28
No.29 The Creed Plain
No.32 Bolton Abbey
No.15 Deer Stalkers Returning
No.35 The Auld Man's Best Argument
slide broken but photograph still intact
No.38 Rustic Felicity
No.39 The Imperial Family of Russia
slide broken, labels still on but photograph missing
No.45 Bridge at Prague
slide with label but no photograph
broken slide stuck on a clean slide – photograph still o/k
No.56 The Noble Army of Martyers Praise Thee
ringed cover slip – unusual. Maybe an after market addition (?)
chip out of corner of slide but photograph still o/k
label just about readable but picture missing
No.95 H.R.H.Maharajah Dhuleep Singh
The cover slip is ringed (most unusual for a JBD microphotograph)
retailed by Armstrong of Manchester
No.236 The Village Blacksmith
No.241 The Origin of the Species
with hand written explanation on separate label
No.249 Bob Cratchet's Dinner
No.250 The Sermon on the Mount
slide broken and repaired, photograph still o/k
No.271 Panorama of Rome
the last item on Dancer's original list
This microphotograph is labelled by Dancer's Daughters
Robinson Crusoe by J. Nasmiyth
The photograph is similar to the one shown for No.417 on the Suter list but looks to be more complete, in that the Suter listed picture looks to be an un-finished sketch whereas this photograph is of the completed sketch.
OTHER MICROPHOTOGRAPHS
slides with similar label to JBD but without the initials – the numbers on the labels do not refer to the original Dancer or Suter lists and are probably the preparers own list of numbered slides.
No.17 Massacre of the Inocents
No.27 The Agony
No.31 Paul Preaching at the Ephesus
No.68 Araceli da Caprino, Rome
No.97 S.M.L.Imperatice (No.50 in the book)
slide broken and cover slip missing – photo in poor condition
not the portrait shown in the book (No.433), nor No.25 but a bust with no framing, older looking and facing left.
Photographs by George Quick – two very nice preparations with the cover slips finely ringed.
Going with the Stream (No.92 in the book)
Nelson before the Battle of Trafalgar (No.49 in the book)
Samples by “A.R.” - Arthur Reeves (?)
Oh! painting by Fitzgerald
The Orphans (No.327 in the book)
The Prince and Princess of Wales
Slide broken but photograph still intact (just).
picture looks to be identical to the one by Quick
“Photographic Curiosity” slides by “J.S.”
broken slide, repaired by sticking the broken parts on top of a complete blank slide
The Highland drover's Departure
The Village Politicians
John Proclaiming the Messiah
Various other preparers -
No.503 by E.Wheeler – Saturn (not No.347 in the book)
very nicely prepared with ringing on the cover slip and Wheelers name and address on the negative.
200 Kings and Queens of England
trade label by Watson, possibly prepared by Wheeler(?)
The Moon by J.C.S. (Not the same as No.344 in the book)
Laying Down the Law (No.71 in the book)
Trade label by Stanley, Railway approach London Bridge
The Lords Prayer, Illuminated (No.26 in the book)
no preparers label
The Moon. (not the same as No.344 in the book, nor the same as the one by J.C.S. Above). Diamond engraved on the glass slide “The Moon” and initials “HW” (?)
Queen Victoria and Infant Children (No.4 in the book)
no preparer's label
Map of England (No.439a in the book)
no preparers label
Death of Nelson. (not the same as No.382 in the book).
£1000 bank note
Photo – Victorian female in underwear
no preparers label
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