Feathery branching seaweed in white silhouette on a deep blue cyanotype background, with no words.

Blank inside panel with no design or words. — Inside: four of your photos stand up below this, with your note.

No. 157 of 248 · The Natural History Series

Desmarestia Seaweed Cyanotype

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Anna Atkins's cyanotype of Desmarestia ligulata spreads its fine, feathery fronds in white across a deep Prussian blue. Atkins made these images by laying each seaweed on light-sensitive paper in the sun, creating the first book ever illustrated with photographs. For someone who loves the sea, science or quiet old art.

Add four of your own photos and your own words; we print the card in the US and post it for you.

On the back

From the first book ever illustrated with photographs / SEAWEED / Desmarestia ligulata / A brown seaweed that grows as fine, flat feathers. Desmarestia stores acid in its cells, strong enough to burn other seaweeds it touches. / Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, 1843-53 / Anna Atkins laid each seaweed on light-sensitive paper in the sun, making the first book ever illustrated with photographs.

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