James Nasmyth, Copernicus’ crater study model in plaster, 1870’s

One of 15 assorted photographs of Nasmyth’s crater models illuminated at a low angle illustrating unknown lunar craters and originally mounted in Nasmyth’s own album.

James Nasmyth, a Scottish engineer who had achieved fame and fortune with his invention of the steam-hammer, and who had retired to a house in Penshurst, Kent, renamed ‘Hammerfield’, in order to pursue his obsessions on astronomy and photography.