History. Photodiscovery: Masterworks of Photography, 1840-1940 by Bruce Bernard.

Abrams, 1980.  Most images not previously published in standard texts. Fine large heavy book with very good protected dust jacket that has scuff on front inner flap where price label removed. 262 pages.  Copies sold at Swann auctions #1816, and #1844, both in 1999, for $230.  Heavy book, require more postage that most items in my store.  Summary:

Photodiscovery: Masterworks of Photography, 1840–1940 (1980) is a celebrated survey of the first century of photography, curated by the British picture editor Bruce Bernard. The book is renowned for its unconventional selection process, bypassing the "over-exposed" icons of the medium in favor of rare, startling, and often anonymous masterpieces.

Core Focus and Philosophy

1. The Aesthetic of the "Original"

Bernard’s primary goal was to present photographs as they appeared in their original state. Unlike many 20th-century history books that printed everything in standard black and white, Photodiscovery emphasizes the physicality of the print, showcasing the wide array of early chemical processes:

• Color and Tone: The book features high-quality reproductions that capture the distinct hues of daguerreotypes, cyanotypes, salt prints, and hand-colored lithographs.

• Patina: It preserves the foxing, fading, and chemical shifts that give antique photographs their unique, tactile character.

2. The "Anonymous" Masterpiece

While the book includes works by legends like William Henry Fox Talbot, Julia Margaret Cameron, and Walker Evans, a significant portion of the 214 plates are by unknown or "minor" photographers. Bernard argues that the "genius" of photography often lies in the accidental or the vernacular—images captured for science, war, or personal records that happen to possess extraordinary artistic power.

Thematic Structure

The volume is organized into broad, evocative categories rather than a strict chronological timeline, allowing for surprising visual dialogues:

• The Human Form: From early ethnographic studies to the surrealist nudes of the 1930s.

• The Changing World: Documenting the rise of the industrial city, the desolation of war, and the exoticism of 19th-century travel.

• Nature and Still Life: Exploring the camera's ability to render the textures of the natural world with "supernatural" clarity.

Technical Appendix

A vital component of the book is the technical notes by Valerie Lloyd. These provide a concise guide to the various photographic processes used during the century covered, explaining the chemistry behind the visual effects seen in the plates.

Summary Takeaway

Photodiscovery is widely considered one of the most beautiful and influential "museums in a book." It challenged the rigid "fine art" canon of the 1980s by proving that photography’s history is much weirder, more colorful, and more democratic than traditional histories suggested. It remains a primary inspiration for collectors and historians who value the image as a physical, chemical object of wonder.