The Preface to the second edition of Pictures of East Anglian Life, issued in 1890, appears on the verso of the front cover.  The work was designed as a teaching guide of sorts, which Photogravure.com compares to the first 1888 edition as best illustrating Emerson’s “theories, and presented them loose in a portfolio dedicated to the ‘photographic student’, with the same title and cover of the book. He then donated copies of this portfolio to every photographic society in the country.”

PREFACE.

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AS many of the plates in “PICTURES OF EAST ANGLIAN LIFE” began to show signs of wear and tear, it was decided to issue no more copies of that work. But it seemed a pity to destroy all the plates, since many of the best (having been reproduced by a newer process) gave prints nearly perfect. It was therefore decided to complete the advertised numbers, viz., 75 numbered copies of India proofs, and 500 copies of prints, by continuing the publication in portfolio form, giving ten of the best plates and destroying all the others. This has been done, and the numbering has gone on from the last copy of the book as first published. So altogether only 75 copies will be issued, and 500 sets of prints, as first advertised; after which all negatives, transparencies and plates will be destroyed, and the fact advertised in the Publishers’ Circular.

Thinking that some notes I issued with copies for the British Photographic Societies might be useful to the photographic student, I have included them here, after making a few unimportant alterations.

P. H. EMERSON.

May, 1890.