Giroux Daguerreotype Lens 1839 *

The Giroux lens for the Daguerreotype camera from 1839 is a significant artefact in the history of photography. Designed by Charles-Louis Chevalier and manufactured by Alphonse Giroux, this lens was used in the first commercially produced cameras, based on the pioneering work of Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre. The Giroux Daguerreotype camera, featuring Chevalier’s achromatic lens, marked an important milestone in early photographic technology.

Approximately a dozen of these special lenses are known to exist today, scattered across various collections worldwide. The offered lens is in excellent condition, showcasing beautiful paint-filled engravings on the front. Despite some scratches on the protruding optical element, the lens remains perfectly functional for photographic purposes. It has a later-produced mounting ring.

The lens has a diameter of 71mm and a focal length of approximately 300mm. Combined with a 22mm aperture opening, this results in a speed of f/13.6. The Giroux lens is not only a testament to early photographic advancements but also a rare and valuable piece of history.