An Autograph Signature by Inventor of Photography

A cut signature belonging to the pioneering photographer, Henry Fox Talbot. The autograph signature is written in black ink on very slightly textured paper which has evidently been clipped from a letter. Fox Talbot signs himself 'H.F. Talbot' in keeping with his usual practice. The signature was almost certainly part of a Victorian autograph collection. Its original owner would have discarded the rest of the letter but retained the signature on its own. The red paper of the album page has stuck to the back of the signature where it was mounted and then subsequently removed from the album. Otherwise the oblong piece of paper is faintly browned but in Very Good condition. History has decreed that Fox Talbot should share the credit for inventing photography with his French contemporary Daguerre, but the Englishman undoubtedly claims priority for inventing the positive-negative process which would dominate photography for much of the next one hundred and fifty years. His signature is uncommon and highly desirable.