Captain sir William de Wiveleslie abney RE, FRS. 1843-1920. He was an
English photo-chemist and gave practical directions for manufacturing
emulsions. Invented copper bromide-silver nitrate intensification in 1877.
Introduced hydroquinone as a developer in 1880. Invented gelatin chloride
printing our paper (POP) [isnt that currently topical?] in 1882. Worked on
photo-chemistry, sensitometry, densitometry, solarization, photomerty,
colorimetry, spectral analysis. Wrote numerous books and articles.
President of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain 1892-4, 1896,
1903-5. Received the Progress Medal of the RPS in 1878 and 1890. Knighted
1900. Was adviser in Science to the Board of Education.
His book "A treatise on Photography" Longman Green & Co, London, was one of
a series of text books on science. My edition, 5th published 1888 cost 5
shillings and 6 pence.
He also invented Citrate paper: gelatin chloride. Similar to albumenised
paper it was one of the first manufactured on an industrial basis.
Continyed to be popular until the 1930s.
Hope that answers a few questions.
Richard Morris
PS. To APIS delegates. Hope to get some prints done shortly. I have just
spent £800 (yes Eight Hundred pounds ) on some very special old paper to
try and get the best results. It's also good for negatives. I am told that
the British Journal of Photography carries an article. I scanned a group
neg and one of Dick Sullivan, and sent them digitised prints. They have
used one I believe. Am waiting for a copy. Just think 150 years of
technology - what would Talbot have thought!