Photograph of 40ft telescope at Slough.

This is a print taken in 1890 of a negative taken by Sir John Frederick William Herschel on 9 September 1839. The original negative was the first glass plate photograph ever taken. This original negative is now at the Science Museum, London.

The actual photograph is circular, printed at the centre of thick paper . There is a description of the photographic method used to produce it written around and on each side of photograph. The photograph and writing is mounted on a thick cardboard backing. The card has been discoloured with age.