Letter ordering a camera obscura for Count Alessandro Baldeschi Eugeni, Florence?,
- Title(s):
Letter ordering a camera obscura for Count Alessandro Baldeschi Eugeni.
- Published/Created:
- Florence?, 1863.
- Physical Description:
- 1 item ([4] pages) ; 22 cm.
- Holdings:
- Rare Books and ManuscriptsTR250 .L48 1863Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon FundView by request in the Study Room [Request]
Note: The Study Room is open by appointment. Please visit the Study Room page on our website for more details. - Copyright Status:
- Copyright Not Evaluated
- Full Orbis Record:
- http://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/9781275
- Classification:
- Archives & Manuscripts
- Notes:
- The author of the present letter may be Count Giancarlo Conestabile, a notable Italian archaeologist and antiquary of the 19th century. The author writes on behalf of Count Alessandro Baldeschi Eugeni, a prelate of the Catholic Church.
Manuscript letter, to an unidentified recipient, requesting a camera obscura on behalf of Count Alessandro Baldeschi Eugeni, of Florence, 1863. The letter is signed "C. Conestabile." The author may be Count Giancarlo Conestabile. The letter is written in pen and black ink, on four sides of a single folded sheet, the first panel of which bears an engraved illustration of "The Great International Exhibition of 1862" at London.
Translated into English, the letter reads: "Dear Sir, a friend of the undersigned, Count Alexandre Baldeschi Eugeni, has written him from Florence in order to obtain a Chambre Obscure half-plate, (your invention) with all the necessary accessories, excepting however the lens, which he already possesses. He saw this Chambre at work at the home of certain Americans in Florence who gave him your address. The undersigned was charged with buying and paying for it. Not having located you, and since he is again leaving this evening for Orleans, he leaves you these couple of words in writing in the hope that you will understand. If there are no difficulties on your part, and if the price is not too high, you may send the said machine, in good condition, immediately to Florence, Italy, to Count Baldeschi Eugeni, via Condotta, No 11, 2d floor, while writing him a letter to advise him of this and to inform him of the price, which he will immediately send you by way of a draft drawn on Paris. If the price poses difficulties, I myself will pay it or will myself guarantee it. The means of shipment to Florence is by high speed rail Lyons-Turin etc. Paris 30/ 63. Count Conestabile."
The engraved view of the 1862 Exhibition Hall is captioned "Designed by Captain Fowke, R.E. Built by Messrs. Lucas & Kelk. (Pubd. by Ellis, 51 Jewin St. London) ... Covers 23 acres, or 4 acres more than that of '51, which cost £150,000, while this costs £300,000. Length of front, 1152 feet, width 692 feet, height of crystal domes 260 feet, diameter 1560 feet, or 52 feet wider than St. Paul's London, & 21 feet wider than St. Peters at Rome." - Subject Terms:
- Baldeschi Eugeni, Alessandro, conte.Camera obscuras.Conestabile, Giancarlo, conte, 1824-1877.International Exhibition (1862 : London, England)
- Form/Genre:
- Correspondence.
Engravings -- 1863. - Export:
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