Fowke's Bellows camera

Camera with fittings etc, formerly the property of Captain Fowke Royal Engineers. Two ivory plaques: 'Capt Fowke's Camera, T. Ottewill & Co. London', 'Henry Cole Esq, In memory of Capt Fowke. R.E. 4th Dec 1868'.

Francis Fowke was an architect and engineer, among other inventions he patented the folding photographic camera in May 1856, later known as the bellows camera. The camera was made by Thomas Ottewill and Company of London, who later exhibited 'a Monster camera made by Mr Ottewill upon Capt. Fowkes' plan' at the Photographic Society's exhibition in 1858.