A window into the past: 30 first photographs taken in 1839 by John Herschel

John Frederick William Herschel is one of the most famous and respected scientists of the XIX century. His interests in chemistry, physics and astronomy played an important role in the development of these sciences. And he was also fond of photography, and if he had focused on this particular occupation, he would undoubtedly have created a photo a quarter of a century earlier than Talbot and Daguerre. Today, his photographs are a real historical value and an opportunity to look into the past.

Crawford Notch. Steep and narrow gorge of the Saco River in the White Mountains in New Hampshire, 1840.

The Pantheon. The only building of Ancient Rome that has not turned into ruins and has survived intact to the present day, 1842.

View of the Paris Boulevard, 1843.

Nelson's column. Monument located in the center of Trafalgar Square in London, 1843.

Creating a photo portrait. Richard Byrd's Daguerreotype portrait Studio, 1843.

Lane and Peddy pose in Afghan costumes. The development of photography, 1843.

Famous English artist Elizabeth Rigby, 1844.

Pisa embankment. View of Pisa along the Arno River, 1844.

Photo of an unknown lady, Germany, 1845.

Portrait of Pauline von der Beck, nee Grassi, Germany, 1846.

A woman with a dog, USA, 1845.

The palace-monastery of the Escorial. The royal residence of the Spanish rulers, 1845.

Miss Monroe and Mrs. Binney. A snapshot of 1845.

Panorama of Pisa. View of the oldest arched bridge in Europe, 1845.

Hadrian's Arch. The Arc de Triomphe in Athens, 1846.

The Capitol Building is a symbol of freedom and democracy in the USA, 1846.

Servants at the manor, Switzerland, 1846.

View of Geneva, 1847.

The capital of Switzerland. View of the reservoir of Geneva, 1847.

Children of orientalist Herman Brockhaus. Commemorative photo card for the traveler, 1847.

John Jeffrey and Dr. Langley, Scotland, 1847.

Ether anesthesia in surgical practice began to be used in 1847.

Seven servants. Photo by Jean-Gabriel Einar, Switzerland, 1847.

Three girls. A snapshot of 1847.

Members of the family of the Swiss banker Einar, 1847.

The General Assembly Hall of the Free Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1848.

Cabin boy on a merchant ship, USA, 1848.

German family, Germany, 1848.

The city of Saint-Pierre on the island of Martinique, 1848. In 1902, the city was destroyed in a few minutes by a hurricane of red-hot stones and ash during a volcanic eruption.

Portrait of Jean-Gabriel and Anna Einar with Madame Charriere. Pioneer of photography, 1849.