Warren De La Rue – Early Astrophotography Plates (1859) Original pocket‑format astronomical booklet leaves issued by Smith, Beck & Beck, containing one genuine lunar photograph and one lithographic solar plate, both derived from De La Rue’s pioneering 1859 negatives.

Offered here are two matching plates, each measuring c11.5 cm × 6.5 cm, assumed from a small stitched astronomical booklet issued circa 1859–1861. This format is now extremely scarce: unlike the large quarto or folio plates, these pocket‑sized educational booklets were printed in very small numbers and seldom survive intact.

1. The Moon – 11 September 1859 A true photographic print, produced by Smith, Beck & Beck from Warren De La Rue’s original negative. The caption gives full observational data: “THE MOON. 1859, September 11th, 11h. 20m. Age 14·8 days. South W E. Photographed by Smith, Beck & Beck, from Mr. Warren De La Rue’s Original Negative. Libration in Latitude –2° 4′. Libration in Longitude –2° 48′.” This is one of the earliest commercially available astrophotographic images ever issued.

2. Sunspots and Faculae – 20 September 1859 A lithographic plate, printed from De La Rue’s solar photograph taken nine days later. The litho format was standard for solar plates at this date, allowing clearer reproduction of faculae and penumbrae. The typography and paper stock match the lunar plate exactly, confirming booklet origin.

These two leaves represent the earliest public dissemination of astrophotography, produced immediately after De La Rue’s landmark demonstrations to the Royal Astronomical Society in 1859. Their pocket‑book size, identical stock, and paired construction confirm they come from a single small-format booklet, not from the larger loose plates or later albums.

Provenance: 

From a single owner collection of 3,000+ items. A chaotic uncatalogued miscellany of items from 17th to 20th Century. 

Containing, amongst many other things: ALSs (Autograph Letters Signed); Signed Photos, Posters, Ephemera, Album pages; Clipped Signatures; Signed Free Fronts; Misc Manuscript Items; etc, etc.  

Warren De la Rue FRS FRAS (Jan 1815 – Apr 1889) was a British astronomer, chemist, and inventor, most famous for his pioneering work in astronomical photography