Daguerréotype Susse Fréres

A previously unknown sliding box Daguerreotype camera for 167x216 mm (“full-plate” 6.5x8.5 inch) exposures, manufactured in 1839 according to instructions by Daguerre. Soft wood, stained black, brass fittings, a manufacturer’s label is affixed to one side with the legend: «LE DAGUERRÉOTYPE, D´aprés les Plans officiels déposés par Mr. DAGUERRE au Ministére de l´Interérieur. SUSSE Frères, 31, Place de la Bourse». The achromatic lens by Ch. Chevallier has a focal length of around 38cm at f/14. At the front of the lens is a cylindrical brass mount that functions as an aperture as well as a swivelling brass plate that serves as a shutter. On the lens cap is an inscription: «DAGUERRÉOTYPE, SUSSE FRÉRES, 31, Place de la Bourse». The rear sliding box has two doors that open to the inside. These can be closed from outside thus making the camera lightproof during the insertion of the plate. The doors and the interior of the camera are lined with black velvet, the door-closing mechanism and the hinges are made of brass. There is also a holder for photographic plates or for a frosted-glass screen on the rear of the camera. The overall, original condition of the camera is exceptionally good and it has never been restored. It was originally owned by Prof. Max Seddig (1877-1963) who was the director of the Institute of Applied Physics in Frankfurt am Main and, among other things, godfather to the founding of the Josef Schneider Optical Works in Kreuznach. Seddig gave the camera to his assistant, Günter Haase, as a present. The latter was later Professor at the Department of Scientific Photography at the University of Frankfurt and, from 1970 on, occupied the Chair for Scientific Photography at the Technical University of Munich. Prof. Günter Haase died on February 20th 2006 at the age of 88 and left the camera to his son, Prof. Wolfgang Haase. Numerous experts attest that it is very likely the oldest commercially-produced camera in the world. An expertise by