1890. 4to, pp. [iv], iv, 20, [2] conclusions, [2] advertisement for Marion & Co., materials; with tipped in slip at p. 4; with four Woodburytype mounted on thick card; lightly foxed and browned throughout, with some marginal dust-soiling; gutter cracked in a couple of places but holding firm; in the original red cloth, upper cover lettered and decorated in gilt and black, all edges gilt, head and tail of spine bumped and chipped, with 1cm loss at head, and further small nick to lower joint, spine darkened, covers a little faded and soiled; still a good copy. First edition of this scarce, early and elegantly produced work aimed at both professional and amateur photographers, a practical manual intended to introduce the techniques for using the brilliant, yet dangerous, light of burning magnesium for photography in different settings. Whilst electric lights had been successfully employed, they were expensive: ‘in the magnesium lamp a far cheaper and more actinic illuminant is placed with the reach of every photographer who chooses to make himself a master of its capabilities’ (p. 1). Slingsby present an enthusiastic account of his own experiences, and as such the work serves as n elaborate advertisement for Slingsby's flash arrangement sold by Marion & Company. The work includes four Woodburytypes: one of Slingsby and his family at home, one daughter at the piano with another about to sing, one a large gathering of children in a ballroom, one of his flash set-up preparing to take the portrait of a young girl, and finally the staged portrait photograph itself, showing a girl seated on a stone wall, holding a basket.