Patentes sobre fotografía en España (1839-1939). Análisis documental: contenidos y solicitantes

Ever since Photography was officially presented for the very first time at the Science Academy of Paris in 1839, the invention of processes, applications, appliances and materials has been continuous. The historic documentation on the subject is kept in the Oficina Espanola de Patentes y Marcas (OEPM) from March 27th 1826 to the present day. This article focuses on the documentary analysis of those patents related to photography and granted during an entire century, from 1839 to 1939, a period which begins with the invention of the daguerreotype and ends with the Spanish Civil War, (1936-1939). A specific methodology was set up based on the information obtained from the OEPM data bases, which include documentation from 1826 to 1966. A total of 85 search terms were used, leading to the recovery of 973 patents registered during the period studied, from which a total of 221 concepts have been obtained and classified according to five general categories: Applications, Materials, Processes, Color and Technology. The applicants’ names (1,130) and the registration dates of the applications are included as an Appendix.