It seems that the “Union Cases” that were used to protect daguerreotypes from shattering (they resemble a woman’s make-up compact) were an example of early thermoplastic technology.

Now, together with Gilles Bencimon of Radio France Internationale, he has discovered a photo reproduction of a daguerreotype depicting (most likely) Fryderyk Chopin. The daguerreotype was made in 1847 ...