A Manual of Photographic Chemistry, Including the Practice of the Collodion Process

A Manual Of Photographic Chemistry, Including The Practice Of The Collodion Process by Thomas Frederick Hardwich is a foundational 19th-century guide to the science and practice of early photography. The work is divided into a theoretical section on the science of photography, detailing the chemistry of silver salts, the action of light on photosensitive materials, the nature of latent images, and the theory behind positive and negative printing; and a practical section devoted to the Collodion process, including the preparation of Collodion, formulas for the nitrate baths, developing fluids, fixing and toning baths, and instructions for manipulating lenses, copying engravings, and creating stereoscopic images. A third division provides outlines of general chemistry, covering the chemical elements, their compounds, and the nomenclature of salts. Blending theoretical chemistry with hands-on photographic techniques, the book served as an essential reference for early Victorian photographers.