eved to be
more durable than any other style of "Sun-drawing," the author has hit
upon the present as being an appropriate time for the introduction of
the Fifth Edition of this work. The earlier edition having a long
since been wholly; exhausted, the one now before you is presented.

The endeavor has been to point out the readiest and most approved
Methods of Operation, and condense in its pages; as much practical
information as its limits will admit. An extended Preface is
unnecessary, since the aim and scope of this work are sufficiently
indicated by the title.

S. D. HUMPHREY NEW YORK, 1858.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

Polishing the Daguerreotype Plate--Buffing the Plate--Coating the
Plate--Exposure of the Plate in the Camera--Position Developing the
Daguerreotype--Exposure to Mercury--Removing the Coating--Gilding or
fixing the Image--Coloring Daguerreotype, . . . . . 18

CHAPTER II.

Coloring Back Grounds--Transparent ditto--Gilding Dissolvent--Solution
for removing Specks--Solarized Impression--To Purify Water--Cleaning
Mercury--Adhesive Paper--Black Stain for Apparatus--Sealing Wax for
Bottles--Rouge--Rotten Stone--Potassa Solution--Hyposulphite
Solution--Substitute for do.--Gilding Solution--Solution for increasing
the Brilliancy of the Daguerreotype--Bleaching Solution;--Cold
Gilding--Neutralizing Agents--Buff Dryer--Keeping Buffs in
order--Cleaning Buckskins--Reflector for taking Views, . . . . 52

CHAPTER III.

Bromine and its Compounds--Iodine and its Compounds--Chlorine and its
Compounds--Cyanide of Potassium--Hyposulphite of Soda--Hyphosulphite of
Gold--Nitric Acid--Nitro-Muriatic Acid--Hydrochloric Acid--Hydrofluoric
Acid--Sulphuric Acid--Accelerating Substances--Liquid Sensitives--Dry
Sensitives, etc., etc., . . . . . 72

CHAPTER IV.

Light--Optics--Solar Spectrum--Decomposition of Light--Light, Heat, and
Actinism--Blue Paper and Color for the Walls of the Operating
Room--Proportions of Light, Heat and Actinism composing a
Sunbeam--Refraction--Reflection--Lenses--Copying Spherical
Aberration--Chromatic Aberration, . . . 131

CHAPTER V.

To make Plates for the Daguerreotype--Determining the Time of Exposure
in the Camera--Instantaneous Process for Producing
Daguerreotype--Galvanizing the Daguerreotype Plate--Silvering
Solution--Daguerreotype without Mercury--Management of Chemicals--Hints
and Cautions--Electrotyping--Crayon Daguerreotypes--Illuminated
Daguerreotypes--Natura