The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-30 00:00:00

ABRIDGED PROSPECTUS.

This Company has been formed for the purposes of
purchasing the patent rights for the United Kingdom of a
newly-invented process, called Graphotype, and for work-
ing the same ; the object of the process being the produc-
tion of book and other Illustrations in a manner which is
at once less costly, and more expeditious, than is possible
by the methods at present so extensively employed, and
which insures a more faithful translation of the artist's
original work.
Of the many advantages which the Graphotyping pro-
cess, as a means of illustration offers over that of wood
engraving (which it is believed it will almost entirely, if not
altogether, supersede) the Directors have every confidence
in naming the following : that it accomplishes, with abso-
lute certainty, all that is claimed for it, its success not being
dependent upon any but the very simplest conditions ; 2d
—that by it the artist's work is reproduced with the ut-
most nicety of exactness, the printed picture being in every
particular, down to the minutest detail, the precise fac-
simile of the artist's drawing; 3d—that it effects a very
considerable saving in time, a drawing which would oc-
cupy a skille4 engraver a fortnight to engrave on woo 4,
being-, by the, Graphotype process, madei-eady for printh*
within five or six hours from the time of leaving the
artist's hands; and 4th—that the cost of production is re-
duced to at least one-twentieth of that by woodengraving.
At a meeting of the Society of Arts, held on the Gth of
December last, the process was thoroughly exemplified and
explained before a large number of scientific gentlemen
practically acquainted with the subject, amongst whom
were several connected with the engraving, printing, and
publishing trades, and it was received with almost unani-
mous approval.

Wheiisit is borne in mind how largely wood engraving
enters into the literatumof the day, it must be patent to all
that a very wide field is thus open for the successful em-
ployment of the- method proposed to be worked by this
Company, as it is proposed to charge at the average rate of
one-half the present prices of wood engraving, while the
actual cost is not more than one-twentieth ; it will be seen
at once that a very large margin of profit is reserved for
division amongst the shareholders; and this, too, without
calculating the other sources of profit, which the working
of the process is certain to yield in its application to cotton
printing, some branches of lithography, type-founders'
material, and many decorative purposes, for which the
Company intend to grant licences under their patents.
The terms for the transfer of the patent, together with
the goodwill and business of Messrs,Roper and Co. (and
which includes a number of orders now on hand), are a
cash payment of £12,500, and £12,500 in fully paid-up
shares of the Company, with a further cash bonus of one-
tenth of the profits whenever the nett earnings of the
Company shall in any one year exceed 50 per cent. on the
paid-up capital. In acceding to these terms, the Directors
believe that they have made an arrangement extremely
conducive to the Company's interests. Messrs. Roper and
Co. have expended much time and considerable capital in
thoroughly testing and bringing the invention to complete
working order ; Mr. Edward Roper has entered into an
agreement for a term of years to devote his whole time to
the superintending of the mechanical department, on terms
mainly dependent on the success of the business, thereby
securing to the Company the advantages which his expe-
rience affords, and retaining a substantial interest is the
welfare of the undertaking.
Mr. Henry Fitz-Cook, an artist well-known in the pro-
fession (who has been for many months engaged in work-
ing the process, and who was for many years connected
with the "Illustrated London News"), has been secured
as Managing Director, and the Company being guided by
gentlemen who are well known to the public as practically
experienced in their several branches, the Directors have
every confidence in the success of their undertaking.
Power is reserved in the Articles of Association, for print-
ing and publishing, for such purposes as may, be necessary,
and, an illustrated daily paper is projected in connection
with, but not by this Company, which, without the aid this
process affords, would be au almost impossible achieve-
ment.

Applications for Shares can be made in the accompany-
ing form to the Bankers, Broker, or Solicitor of the Com-
pany, and must be accompanied by a deposit of £1 per
share on the number of Shares applied for, and if no allot-
ment is made will be returned in full.