Dear folks,

I came across a very unusual Voigtländer Petzval lens that dates back to 1852 (#4071). The lens is in great shape glasswise and it is big 16" focal length and fast (f3.8), but the lens is black!
I am pretty sure the lens isn't bronzed by age but by chemicals (as one knows from waterhouse stops). Additionally, the shade is not bronzed but painted - what looks a bit ugly.

Did anyone of you find such an early example of bronzed lenses from Voigtländer? Could that be ordered that way, or was it made afterwards?

Cheers... and thanks!