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

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

Categories: History

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

View of the Paris Boulevard, 1843.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Famous English artist Elizabeth Rigby, 1844.

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

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

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

Photo of an unknown lady, Germany, 1845.

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

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

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

A woman with a dog, USA, 1845.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Servants at the manor, Switzerland, 1846.

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

View of Geneva, 1847.

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

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

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

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

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

John Jeffrey and Dr. Langley, Scotland, 1847.

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

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

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

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

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

Three girls. A snapshot of 1847.

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

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

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

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

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

Cabin boy on a merchant ship, USA, 1848.

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

German family, Germany, 1848.

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

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.

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

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

Keywords: 19th century | Archive

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