The E-Sylum:  Volume 4, Number 35, August 26, 2001, Article 11

EARLIEST USE OF PHOTOS IN A NUMISMATIC BOOK? 

   Hadrien Rambach writes: "Jean-Baptiste GIARD wrote this in 
   an article : "La bibliothèque de Carcassonne possède un ouvrage 
   de l'abbé L. VERGUET, Photographie appliquée à la 
   numismatique.  Monnaies romaines. Monnaies consulaires et des 
   familles romaines..., Carcassonne, 1864, illustré de nombreuses 
   photographies. L'auteur [...] s'est contenté de coller directement 
   de simples photographies dans le texte." 

   (Carcassonne's library owns a book by the abbot L. VERGUET, 
   photographie appliquée à la numismatique. Monnaies romaines. 
   Monnaies consulaires et des familles romaines..., Carcassonne, 
   1864, illustrated with many photographs.  The author [...]  simply 
   glued real photographs in the text.) 

   ("Critique de la science des monnaies antiques", in "Journal des 
   Savants", juillet-septembre 1980, pp. 225-245) 

   If it is not the very first one, it is undoubtedly one of the 
   earliest." 

   The same topic prompted Karl Moulton to write: "Although not 
   directly related to numismatics, it may be of interest to our 
   readership to know that the earliest surviving photograph ever 
   taken in America was taken from the second floor of the second 
   United States Mint building by Mr. Joseph Saxton (Mint service 
   1837-1843). 

   Saxton, one of the unsung mechanical engineers at the Mint, 
   had read about Frenchman Louis Daguerre's stunning 
   photographic results in the summer of 1839 and decided to 
   try his luck, especially since he had all of the necessary materials 
   and chemicals at his disposal.  In October of 1839, Saxton 
   pointed an unknown camera device from his workshop window 
   toward the original Central High School for Boys, and the 
   Pennsylvania State Arsenal, which were located across the 
   street in Center (now Penn) Square. 

   After developing, the image was rather small and fuzzy; but, 
   nonetheless, it was a recognizable one.  This Daguerreotype 
   is housed in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and is 
   plated in the very interesting 1976 book "OLD PHILADELPHIA 
   IN EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS 1839-1914", by Robert F. 
   Looney. 

   This volume has been a valuable addition to my reference 
   library; and yes, it  does contain pictures of the first and second 
   U.S. Mint buildings.  I might add that it really brings home the 
   daily living conditions around Philadelphia during the 19th 
   century, and it makes the remarkable craftsmanship of the 
   workers at the Mint that much more amazing." 

   Moulton adds: "As to Mr. Graver, I believe he is on the 
   wrong subject.  He should be researching people like Robert 
   Scot, William Kneass, Christian Gobrecht, James Longacre, 
   etc.  He's a natural with a name like "N. Graver" 

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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