"To the daguerreotypists of the United States and the public at large a statement respecting the natural colors" by L. L. Hill.

Westkill, Greene County, N. Y., 1852, 28 pages.

Sections: To the daguerreian fraternity and the public at large. The natural colors. Testimonials. The Hillotype - Its discovery, process and position. A visit to Westkill - R. Hill and his hillotypes. The Hillotype. The wonders of the Hillotype. Photographic Colors.

Testimonals from the following daguerreotypists: S. M. Harvey, George McKown, James Heath, Samuel Root, M. A. Root, J. Guerney, C. C. Harrison, J. W. Brown, Caleb Hunt, W. H. Weeks, Morris Bailey, WM. Schermerhorn, Samuel F. B. Morse.

The Photographic History Collection at the National Museum of American History holds an extraordinary series of early color photographs: sixty-two color daguerreotype plates made by Rev. Levi L. Hill in the early 1850s in Westkill, Greene County, New York... No greater controversy has ever appeared in the history of photography... Notable scientists and daguerreotypists such as Samuel F. B. Morse, Marcus A. Root, John A. Whipple, and Jeremiah Gurney wrote public testimonials to the importance of Hill's work. But Hill refused to show his pictures immediately after his announcement of success in 1850, and would not disclose the process before it was patented. This caused impatience among other photographers. Many regarded Hill as an imposter. Articles in photography journals pointed to daguerreotype photographers losing much business while patrons refrained from getting their photographic portraits made; they wanted to be photographed in color. Many photographers felt duped by Hill's motives, his advertising, and requests for more time to perfect his color process. Hillotypes were continually dismissed or denounced as fraudulent even long after Hill's death. However, x-ray and infrared studies of the Smithsonian's unique collection of Hillotypes in 2007 prove that many of these images demonstrate true natural color photography... (Source: National Museum of American History)

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