In 1843, a year after the invention of cyanotype, Anna Atkins created what is now recognized as the first photographic book, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions.
Cyanotype is a camera-less photographic process. Objects are placed on paper coated with iron salts, then exposed to UV light. The result, after washing with water, is a striking contrast of white shapes against Prussian blue backgrounds.
Dear Anna Atkins is a series of 100 one-of-a-kind cyanotype books. They are specimen books, cataloging tissue paper in chance-based, random positions, where the act of re-creation through cyanotype becomes an homage—a way of embracing plagiarism as a sincere form of admiration. Dear Anna Atkins is the first title in the Dear… series, where each publication explores plagiarism as an art of tribute to creators who have informed our practice.—By the Publisher
Please note that each copy has its own unique images. Though the books are the same size and color, the way the tissue paper is arranged during the cyanotype printing process makes each one one-of-a-kind.
Ships folded.