Earliest known photographs of West Sussex going up for auction
The prints date back to 1851
The earliest photographs of West Sussex in existence are going under the hammer later this week.
Images taken by Horsham-based Captain Thomas Honywood have been unveiled which date back to 1851 - a full 169 years ago.
The 170-strong collection is being put up for auction by Chiswick Auctions and are expected to reach a price of between £50,000 and £70,000 when they are sold later this month.
The 'nature prints' show various scenes from around the town and surrounding landscapes of towns in Sussex and Surrey, along with images of the townsfolk.
They were taken a mere decade after the calotype process of photography was invented by William Henry Fox Talbot.
Austin Farahar, Head of Photographica at Chiswick Auctions and custodian of the collection, said Honywood was a key figure in shaping Horsham's history in more ways than one.
"A key member of the Horsham Volunteer Fire Brigade, he was a community leader and assisted in the formation of fire services in Horsham and the neighbouring towns in the wider Sussex area.
"Also a keen Archaeologist, whilst conducting excavations in Horsham, he discovered the ‘Horsham Hoard’ of medieval pottery and ceramics, photographs of which are included in this album.
"As a result of his dedication to the Fire Brigade, and his many contributions to Horsham life and the wider Sussex area, Honywood was venerated with a portrait which now hangs in the Horsham Museum.
"The album has a narrative similar to any great artist’s scrapbook, full of experimentation, development and adjustments. However, many of the works contained within are simply breathtaking and when taken out of the album’s context, would compete very successfully hung next to other early photographic masterworks by Charles Negre, Felix Nadar or even Gustave Le Gray.
"To think that Honywood is yet to take his seat at the table of celebrated 19th-century photographers is very exciting."
For more details please visit the Chiswick Auctions website.