First published in late 1891 by the Troy, N.Y. firm Nims & Knight, Camera Sketches from Life and Nature features delicate Japanese tissue photogravure plates engraved and printed by the New York Photogravure Company. Thirteen individual photographs on ten plates “direct from nature” and from their original negatives, make up this scarce quarto oblong volume, with three plates featuring two photographs on the page. The retail price for the volume was $2.00.

Originally tied with ribbon through four punch holes along the top margin, (since perished) the work is bound by a front cover featuring the title placed within a simple design and publisher credit. The rear cover is of the same paper, but not engraved. These front and rear heavy paper wraps are made from specially molded paper with a floral motif that appears embossed, described as “bound in tinted plastic board”. (“plastic” denoting the flexible state of the paper media utilized) It’s believed there was no additional letterpress issued: no Preface or Index page listing plates. Interestingly, more than half of the photographic images in the folio—seven in total—do not list a photographer or engraver credit. Each plate however is engraved with a title, centered within the lower margin.

The following listing for this new series of photogravures appeared on p. 7 in Chicago book wholesaler A.C. McClurg & Company’s 1891 Illustrated Holiday Catalogue:

✻ Camera Sketches from Life and Nature. Ten photogravures from original photographs. Printed on Japan paper. Bound in tinted plastic board. Quarto, 10×12.  (retail)  2 00   (net)  p.ud (1.)

Some of these photographs would be published later as plate paper photogravures in The Photographic Times and Ernest Edward’s publication “Sun & Shade”.

1. In the book trade, p.ud refers to “proceeds upon distribution” or “publisher’s units delivered.”