The most thorough and painstaking history of the historical development of photography from ancient 'proto-photographies', up to its date of publication. It covers almost every invention and most research and experimentation, across the huge range of equipment, materials and chemistry in all their application. It has no equal. This product of a lifetime of scholarship is a must for any serious library of the history of the medium, but it is massive...a slow read requiring much flipping back to keep track of the narrative and its huge cast of protagonists. Index, helpful chapter headings and sections. ( )