first Kodak portable box camera came on the market, goes on sale this week.

And its author Mr. Donald E. Stephens, who is no stranger to Bermuda, yesterday said he hopes readers get as much out of the book as he did from putting it together.

The book, entitled "Holiday in Bermuda -- 1889'', gives an intimate view of the Island and its people as seen through the eyes of Kodak No. 1 and its operator Mr. Jacob Prince who visited in February, 1889 with his wife, son, and a nanny.

The Prince family arrived on February 21 of that year aboard the SS Orinoco .

And while there is nothing to suggest the family returned to the Island, Mr.

Prince -- through his photographs, tells the viewers exactly what the Island looked like and what was happening here in the 19th century.

Mr. Stephens, who is on his 31st visit since he and his wife, Barbara, first came to Bermuda in 1978, came upon the rare collection of photographs about two years ago.

The American collector of stamps, postcards, maps and books on Bermuda received a call from a man who asked if he was interested in the snap-shots which had been stored in an attic for more than 60 years.

After picking up his jaw from the floor, Mr. Stephens said he bought them and 18 months ago brought some of the collection to Bermuda where he met with Government archivist Mr. John Adams and Masterworks chairman Mr. Tom Butterfield.

"Fortunately,'' Mr. Stephens said, "most of the photographs were labelled by the photographer and Mr. Adams was able to give historical information on each of the photographs' subjects and current information on them.'' Mr. Stephens also praised Mr. Butterfield for being "probably the biggest supporter'' of the idea of writing a book about the photographs.

Explaining that he visited Bermuda every month for the past 18 months to do research for the book and another publication on stamps expected to be released in September, Mr. Stephens said: "It's been a labour of love''.

In his research Mr. Stephens learned of the historical value of the collection which includes 79 original snap-shots of Bermuda from St. George's to Watford Bridge, and 19 commercial photographs purchased by Mr. Prince during his 1889 visit.

"The curator at George Eastman Museum (in the US) said they were authentic and pre-date anything there by 18 months,'' Mr. Stephens said.

"I then decided they were too valuable to put back in a shoebox and in an attic. I want to share them with the people of Bermuda.'' And Mr. Stephens will be doing just that during a book-signing at A.S.

Cooper's today.

The author will be at the store from 9 to 11.30 a.m., then from 2.30 to 5 p.m.

Tomorrow he will be there from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., then from 3 to 9 p.m.

In between those hours Mr. Stephens will present an autographed copy of his book to the Governor Lord Waddington at Government House.

He presented a copy of the $125 publication to Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan yesterday.

Part of the proceeds from the book's sales will be donated to charity.

And Mr. Stephens said he will turn over some of the photographs, which are in remarkably good condition, to Bermuda's archives.

CAPTURING BERMUDA'S PAST -- Repeat visitors Mr. Donald E. Stephens and his wife, Barbara, display a copy of his book `Holiday in Bermuda -- 1889' which is available at book stores throughout the Island.