I wrote a minute account of these early experiments, according to the strictest psychical research methods, and left it with Mr. Wallis, the then editor of _Light_. He did not publish it, and when I returned to England it could not be found. This incident is briefly recorded by Prof. Henslow in _Proofs of the Truths of Spiritualism_, pp. 224-7. [Illustration: FIG. 16.—Photomicrograph by Major R. E. E. Spencer of portion of Archdeacon Colley’s signature taken from letter written during his lifetime. (_See_ p. 84.)] [Illustration: FIG. 17.—Photomicrograph by Major R. E. E. Spencer of portion of Archdeacon Colley’s signature on psychograph appearing after his death. Compare with Figs. 2. and 16.] [Illustration: FIG. 18.—Photograph of Mr. Wm. Walker with message in the handwriting of Mr. W. T. Stead. (_See_ p. 87.)] [Illustration: FIG. 19.—Mr. and Mrs. Harry Walker and two friends with psychic likeness of Mr. Walker’s father. Compare with Fig. 18.] CHAPTER VIII EVIDENTIAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS OF PSYCHIC PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRED BARLOW Hon. Sec. S.S.S.P., Hon. Sec. Birmingham and Midland S.P.R. No phase of psychical research has been more adversely criticised in the past than psychic photography. This is undoubtedly due to the prevalence of many erroneous ideas on the whole subject. It is a popular fallacy that it is the easiest thing in the world to fake a “spirit” photograph. Those few photographers who have tried to imitate a genuine psychic effect have usually made the discovery that it is by no means so easy a matter as it appears, even when no restriction is placed on the conditions under which the fake should be produced. When conditions are imposed, similar to those usually obtaining with, say, the Crewe Circle, the difficulty of producing a fraudulent result is enormously increased. Under certain conditions, where suitable precautions are employed and where the sitter has a thorough knowledge of photography, plus an acquaintance with trick methods, even the _possibility_ of deception without detection can, for all practical purposes, be ruled out of court. _Under these special conditions, investigators of repute have on many occasions secured successful psychic results._ Apart altogether from any question of test conditions, however, there are certain results which, _in themselves_, afford definite proof of their genuine nature. I refer to those recognised psychic likenesses obtained by sitters who are quite unknown to the sensitives and who have secured results which could not possibly have been prepared in advance. One such case would be sufficient to establish the reality of psychic photography. It is no exaggeration to say that this has actually occurred on scores of occasions, and, in consequence, _the evidence for the truth of psychic photography is overwhelming_.