The Private Works of Captain Thomas Honywood

The flagship lot in our upcoming Photographica sale is an exceptionally rare album of early photographs by Thomas Honywood of Horsham, West Sussex (1819–1888), a figure whose contributions to art, science and community life are only now receiving the recognition they deserve.

Honywood was a true polymath. His passion for photography, archaeology and innovation led him to patent a photographic technique known as "Nature Printing", a process that transferred images from nature onto a range of surfaces. This experimental method earned him a place at the London International Inventions Exhibition of 1885, where he exhibited to great acclaim.

Yet Honywood’s talents extended far beyond the darkroom. He was a key member of the Horsham Volunteer Fire Brigade and instrumental in establishing fire services across Sussex. As an archaeologist, he unearthed the 'Horsham Hoard' , a collection of medieval pottery and ceramics, and photographs of the find are included in this album. His portrait now hangs in Horsham Museum, commemorating his many contributions to the region.

In the early 20th century, a small selection of Honywood's photographs were reproduced as collotype postcards by a Berlin-based printer. This lot includes three such postcards, one of which  "Old Horsham Woodcutters 1850"  is accompanied by the original hand-tinted albumen print used for the reproduction

The album itself is a treasure trove of 170 calotypes and albumen prints, dating from 1851 onwards. These are the earliest known photographs of Horsham and the surrounding area. The images include intimate portraits, architecture, and local landscapes, all bound in a handsome mid-19th-century album.

It is clear from the quality and sensitivity of these works that they were created for Honywood’s personal exploration and pleasure. Far from being made for public exhibition, the album feels like a private reflection of the world he knew and loved. His approach to photography was both scientific and artistic, with a sense of quiet observation that adds emotional weight to each image.

Honywood’s work stands as a testament to the transitional moment when photography moved from being a novelty to a powerful documentary and artistic tool. He was an early adopter of the Calotype process developed by William Henry Fox Talbot and handled it with a rare blend of technical skill and creative vision.

Though the market for early photography has matured, discoveries of this calibre remain exceptional. This album first surfaced in 2011 and made headlines when it far exceeded its modest estimate. In a field where the finest material is now largely held in institutional collections or with dedicated collectors, the reappearance of Honywood’s album on the open market offers a truly rare opportunity.

For more information on collecting early photography, or to receive a free valuation of your photographs, please get in touch with our Fine Photographs Department or request an online valuation today.