Montmartre in 1842

A man named Hippolyte Bayard was a French photographer and presented the first public exhibition of photos in June 1839.  Though he was known for some very odd self-portraits, he is best known for this subtle picture of Montmartre in 1842. 

Richard Beard in his Studio, 1843

In 1839, following the announcements by Louis Daguerre and William Fox Talbot of their innovations in photographic processes, Englishman Richard Beard worked with a few businessmen and inventors to pilot a new type of camera and open up a studio in downtown London.  He purchased a patent on the Daguerrotype process in England and Wales and opened studios across England through 1851. 

See Next Page

40 Rare Photos from the 1840s