Robert White became interested in the history of the camera whilst still a pharmacy research student at London University in the late 1950s. He then joined the pharmaceutical industry, where he worked until his early retirement in 1991. As well as collecting all manner of cameras, photographic books, accessories and printed ephemera, he has lectured, worked as a photographic museum volunteer, written many magazine articles, and the Shire book Discovering Old Cameras 1839-1939. His wife, who is also a pharmacist, has patiently suffered his filling the family home with cameras and books, since she enjoys collecting herself and has more recently persuaded her husband to join her in her own interest of drawing and painting.

• Introduction Snapshot or simple cameras Roll-film folding cameras Non-reflect 35 mm and other miniature cameras Reflex cameras Half-frame and subminiature cameras Special-purpose cameras Museums Book and internet sites Organisations.