John Thomas Redmayne, [1876].

REDMAYNE, John Thomas (1847-1880). Micro-photographs from the Diatomaceae. Bolton, n.d. [1876].

First and only edition of a privately printed album of micro-photographs illustrating several genera of microalgae, inscribed by the author to a microscope manufacturer. John T. Redmayne was a surgeon and physician who developed an interest in microscopy. He focused primarily on the observation of diatoms, of which Charles Darwin wrote: "few objects are more beautiful than the minute siliceous cases of the diatomaceae: were these created that they might be examined and admired under the high powers of the microscope?” Redmayne is considered one of the most successful micro-photographers of the period, and his foundation of The Bolton Microscopical Society permitted him to focus on his passion for examining diatoms until his premature death at the age of thirty-three.

After self-publishing the present album of micro-photographs in 1876, Redmayne advertised in the popular magazine Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip an exchange of an “1/4 inch Objective, or first-class Micro Slides” for a copy of his work. He did not offer his work for sale, instead donating or exchanging copies for supplies. The present copy has been inscribed by the author to Thomas Armstrong, who owned Armstrong & Brother Microscopes, based in Manchester. Perhaps this copy was gifted to Armstrong in exchange for one of the microscopes made by his company; laid-in is an additional photo of Trichina Spiralis which bears Armstrong’s signature as well as that of a photographer named “J.G. Johnson.” Six micro-photographs are laid in a small envelope tipped onto the verso of a text leaf, four depicting insects. The only holding recorded by OCLC is University of Victoria, B.C. See Brian Stevenson’s, “The Microscopist” in Micscape Magazine (2013).


Quarto (198 x 155mm). 65 albumen prints; 59 being mounted, one of which with manuscript caption, and the other 6, two of which are signed “J.Redmayne”, contained in an envelope pasted to the preface verso (leaves warped, some with marginal foxing). Original green gilt stamped cloth, marbled endpapers (extremities bumped). Provenance: Thomas Armstrong (inscription).