"Veil": Engine Ruled Lines, Crossed at Right Angles

In late 1847 Talbot wrote about his idea for "transferring photography to steel engravings" in order to achieve a reliable method for illustrating books with photographs. He recognized the need for a more permanent image after a disastrous experience resulted in his prints becoming faded and discolored. By 1852 Talbot had experimented with his photomechanical process, which ensured more permanency through printers' ink. The rarity of this print despite being an engraving that theoretically could be widely reproduced, was a compelling factor in acquiring the work for the Museum.