Description:

Work by Mangel de Mesnil is very rare. There is only one other known print of this image, which is in the Bibliotheque Nationale and there is in a vignetted version. This is the only known print of the complete image. The Wothlytype was an invention by the German, Jacob Wothly in 1864. It employed silver and uranium salts in collodion. It was considerably more sensitive than albumen paper, but was not as permanent as initially claimed and was soon abandoned. Printed on the mount is "Societe Francaise de Wothlytype, 12 rue Grange Bateliere." It appears that Mangel du Mesnil held the French license for the commercial exploitation of the process. It is signed in the lower right corner of the image with a blindstamp along the bottom center edge of the image. Mangel du Mesnil was apparently a French painter and photographer (1815 - 1890). He went to first Mexico and then Uruguay as both a photographer and diplomat. He reportedly developed an interest in photography in about 1850, perhaps in France. At some point he moved to Mexico. In Mexico City about 1854 he began to practice the art of the daguerreotype. In 1856 the Mexican government named to him, vice-consul to Uruguay and moved him to Montevideo, where he opened a studio and distributed photography supplies. He was active there until at least 1861 when he published, "Notoriedades del Plata", which was an album with biographies of Argentine notables in the silver trade. He worked with the Uruguayan government as minister of external affairs. By 1863 he had returned to France and was active first in Brest (Finistere) about 1863 and then in Paris at rue Grange Bateliere 12 from about 1865-1867.

Shipping and insurance costs will be added to the price and must be paid for by the buyer. Pennsylvania buyers must pay appropriate local sales tax. International clients are responsible for their VAT and other custom's oriented charges.