Objects made from Parkesine, c 1860.

UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 24: Parkesine is thought to have been the first semi-synthetic plastic, a mouldable cellulose nitrate which was invented by Alexander Parkes (1813-1890). It was made of cotton fibres dissolved in nitric and sulphuric acids and mixed with vegetable oil. It was softened by heat and then moulded or hand-carved. Parkesine's great disadvantage, however, was its high flammability. Although Parkes took out a number of patents for his newly discovered material in the 1860s, it was not until the Hyatt brothers of New Jersey developed it ias celluloid that its commercial potential began to be realised. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)
UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 24: Parkesine is thought to have been the first semi-synthetic plastic, a mouldable cellulose nitrate which was invented by Alexander Parkes (1813-1890). It was made of cotton fibres dissolved in nitric and sulphuric acids and mixed with vegetable oil. It was softened by heat and then moulded or hand-carved. Parkesine's great disadvantage, however, was its high flammability. Although Parkes took out a number of patents for his newly discovered material in the 1860s, it was not until the Hyatt brothers of New Jersey developed it ias celluloid that its commercial potential began to be realised. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)
Objects made from Parkesine, c 1860.
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Credit:
Science & Society Picture Library / Contributor
Editorial #:
90742207
Collection:
SSPL
Date created:
24 October, 1995
Upload date:
Licence type:
Rights-managed
Release info:
Not released. More information
Source:
SSPL
Object name:
10278568
Max file size:
3504 x 2487 px (29.67 x 21.06 cm) - 300 dpi - 3 MB