Footnotes

A FINE ASSOCIATION COPY of Isaac Robert's first publication of his celebrated astronomical photographs, given to a fellow amateur astronomer Thomas Richard Clapham (1837-1911) of Austwick Hall, Yorkshire, and containing three original photographs and related ephemera.
Roberts (1829-1904) "moved in 1883 to Kennessee, Maghull, near Liverpool, where he started photographing stars, using ordinary portrait cameras with lenses varying in aperture between 3/8 of an inch and 5 inches" (ODNB), an example of which is bound in (inscribed "Nebulae Orion... an early print from I. Roberts to TRC Feb. 1883. Unenlarged"). In 1882 Roberts joined the Royal Astronomical Society, which awarded him a gold medal for his photographs of star clusters and nebulae in 1895. In 1890 he moved to Crowborough Hill, Sussex, building his own observatory named "Starfield". "He now supervised the work, which was undertaken by W. S. Franks, an astronomer and skilful photographer who became his working assistant" (ODNB).
In addition to two large photographs (approximately 277 x 210mm.) of nebulae, other material added includes a portrait photograph of Roberts, a printed notification of his death, 2 printed articles by Franks (one an obituary of his mentor, one an off-print on dark nebulosities), three autograph letters signed by Franks to Clapham, and a 4-page letterpress "Abridged List of Effects for Disposal" of Robert's home and contents which included "laboratory and dark room, obervatory (heated by hot-water pipes)", photographic and meteorological instruments and a library. Writing from Starfield on 5 August, 1904 Franks notes that everything is for sale and "I shall be leaving here before very long", in September he mentions that "Mrs. R. will leave Crowborough... and she takes all the negatives (some 2800 or more). As for me I might stay on, if an astronomer buys the place... so my future is very nebulous and undefined!". By 30 April, 1906 Franks was still in situ, explaining "the house is too cramped (being only a bungalow), and the grounds too large in proportion... [there will be] enhanced rates for years... so there is not much to cause wonder at the large number of empty houses in Crowborough, mostly of the villa type... I am staying here for the present, but without salary" finishing with a plea to Clapham to buy his miscrope. A note on the title-page records that "The original phtogographs [to the book] were nearly all taken by W.S. Franks, F.R.A.S.... assistant to Dr. Roberts at Starfield Observatory for 13 years. W.S. Franks at Austwick Hall, 24-29 Aug. 1908". The observatories at both Starfield and Austwick Hall have both been demolished.