I picked up this
meaty little tome at BMV (used Books, Music, Video) earlier this week down the the street from where I work for 9 bucks in mint condition, and today I had my first chance to flip through it...
First impression: photography of the mid -- late 1800s was the most modern art form of its day -- and it has barely progressed since (!) (when I have more time I'll cite particular images from the book here)
This is a book filled with such astounding (to me) revelations and, I would have to say, essential reading for any student of the medium (I say "reading", TBH I haven't read a word of the text yet).