The second printing of this second edition clearly indicates that the old platinotype process is the most popular of the so-called nonsilver processes among contemporary artists. Hence this book is important to anyone who wants a good understanding of the platinum process. The book covers, verbatim, all original patents and offers a discussion of them. There are two practical chapters detailing the many variations of the palladiotype and platinotype processes and, most important, a chapter titled, On the permanence, restoration, and conservation of platinotypes. Although images made of platinum and palladium metals should theoretically be extremely permanent, it is clearly established that many platinum/palladium prints are in fact subject to various forms of staining caused by residual chemicals left after processing. -- AATA