French inventor (1765–1833) now credited as the inventor of photography. Exceedingly rare ALS in French, signed “J. N. Niepce,” one page both sides, 4.75 x 7.5, May 12, 1827. Letter concerning a debt sent to a judge in Lyon, written from “Au Gras.” In part (translated): "This letter will be delivered by Mr. Granjon, notary, my attorney, who went to Lyon to notify means to make the repayment of Mr. Philippe Farge and father. I beg Mr. Granjon to present you, Sir, and to confer beforehand with you on this subject. The testimonies of kindness and genuine interest you have kindly granted me here during your stay too short, is a title I like to avail myself to call if your immediate cooperation, the less effective your benevolent intervention the case in question. Remembering your pleasant memory, sir, after such a long silence, I can relate what if one of your honest methods, so delicate with me; so it is very sweet to me to take this opportunity for you to express again my gratitude, and even recommend me to your kind interest.” Retains the integral address leaf accomplished in Niepce’s hand. In very good condition, with creasing and folds, several pin holes (some near the signature area), and some paper loss to address panel.
In 1826 or 1827, Niepce used a primitive camera to produce the oldest surviving photograph of a real-world scene, a heliographic image entitled ‘View from the Window at Le Gras’ which is now displayed at the Ransom Center. The image depicts the view from an upstairs window at Niepce's estate, Le Gras, in the Burgundy region of France. This exceedingly rare letter is of great significance in this light—it is one of the only known letters from the period in which the first photograph was made, and was written in the same setting at Le Gras. It also concerns his debts, likely those incurred to finance his experiments. By 1829 Niepce was nearly out of money and got in touch with Louis Daguerre, who was experimenting with similar processes, to form a partnership. Together, they developed the physautotype, which used lavender oil as the photographic agent rather than the bitumen that Niepce initially used. After Niepce passed away in 1833, Daguerre continued to experiment and ultimately developed what is commonly thought of as the first photographic process, the daguerreotype. This is believed to be the first letter by Niepce to appear on the market since 2002, when an archive sold at Sotheby’s for nearly $500,000. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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