Focal Encyclopedia of Photography

[Mick Fagan]

Ross, I agree with you completely regarding the publication history of a publication, especially non-fiction.

Ralph, yes a good reminder to date pictures, I have a family portrait taken in-between 1851 to 1853, we only know this because the photographer visited Australia on a ship that only ever came to this country in both of those years. She arrived and left on the same ship!

Interestingly the picture which is of my great, great grandfather and his missus, shows that I look extremely like him, so much so, that most people think it's a period picture of myself taken when I was in my early thirties.

Mick.

[Steve Smith]

As a fairly keen reader of fiction and non fiction books the publication history is of interest to me.

I don't know why but I always want to know when a book was first published. Whenever I start reading a book, by the time I have read two or three pages, I have gone back to look at the publication date.


Steve.

[Clay2]

I picked up Volume II (Mach to Zoom) of the Sept. 1960 Caxton reprint at my local
thrift shop last year for 25 cents. Been looking for Volume I ever since!

Best regards,

/Clay

[Clay2]

Ross,
Just saw your query re dates of publication. Mine says:

First published Oct. 1956
Reprint Aug. 1957
Reprint Dec. 1958
The Caxton edition June 1959
Revised reprint June 1960
Caxton reprint Sept. 1960

Best regards,

/Clay

[Anscojohn]

Ralph,

I've now ordered a copy of the book.

Tom

***********
so have I.

[Anscojohn]

Ross,
Just saw your query re dates of publication. Mine says:

First published Oct. 1956
Reprint Aug. 1957
Reprint Dec. 1958
The Caxton edition June 1959
Revised reprint June 1960
Caxton reprint Sept. 1960

Best regards,

/Clay
Mine is a DESK EDITION......

[Tom Kershaw]

My copy of 'Focal Encyclopedia of Photography' arrived on Thursday; it does seem to be a volume to read at the desk rather than fireside.

Tom

[Mick Fagan]

John, What is a "Desk Edition"?

Mine is two volumes, light blue, hard back and about 50mm thick each book, slightly smaller than A4.

Mick.

[Anscojohn]

John

You must be thinking of the 'Ilford Manual of Photography', which is now called the 'The Manual of Photography'. 'The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography' was always call that. The 1st edition is from 1958. The current 4th edition was published in 2007.
******************
As a result of reading that Ralph is a contributor, I purchased the 4th Edition of the Focal Encyclo. Also, my older Desk Edition is self-destructing. The dinosaur (and former history major) says I really like the quaintness of my Desk Edition.

That being said, I am very glad I have the new one. And Ralph's pages are outstanding. It is now "coffee-table book" with a purpose. I keep it there because it is easier to read and complements my morning coffee.

A further aspect is this: I will no longer have to search for something to use to flatten FB prints!!:D

[Tom Kershaw]

John,

The book is certainly a weighty specimen. I've not actually browsed through it yet, as I feel a strategy needs to be devised for safe navigation.

Tom