Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-03-01
ANAsTATIC PRINTING.

PROM THE LONDON ARr-USIoS ron FEBRUARY.
"o announced, last month, invention which this
name mas been gven and also our intention to describe and
point out s utilities in the present number Of the ArtUnion
man purpose Of this journal to bring forward every
ehdns IN anywse to the advancement of the fine
useiu a ana consequently to the improvement of public
s we has'eh 70 W before readers of the
process ana results Anastatic Printing II has been the
fate OF all beneficial nnovaonsand the more especially if
they recommend themselves by their cheapness thew
have had to combat array of prejudice and the determined
opposition of vested interest !" this method Of nrduc;n
books and prints will not be exempted from the common lot
but such the extreme simplicity and unexamped rapidity Of
the process in multiplying engavngs drawings and books
that must inevitably be- long, established in general
maon We have heard, years ago. Of similar propositions
but since they have been matrea into solution of all
difficulties, as In the present case let the honor and profit be
to those by whose labor and ingenuity reproduction rendered
not only practicable but trumphany simple beyond all the
happies ideas Of stereotype The drawing and prints which
accompany this notice. with the letter press form together an
example of this method Of printing The eterpress was first
set in type by the ordinary printer of the ArUnion leaving
for the drawn engraved Illustrations which have been
set INTO their respective places proof of the eerpess
whole was cast on to plate and printed off and it
be here observed that there limit the thousands of
copies that may be drawn, the slightest diminution Of
ceence successive Impressions new plates nd fni-
fum may be prepared from the copies now Welded ssThe
Nurse and 'The Revey are wood cuts taken from The
Book of British Ballads and the remainder are drawings by
gentlemen whose undersigned, and which have
been transferred Immediately the plate The invention is
equally successful in application earliest prntng-we
have seen several transfers from books century old
The principal merit claimed by the propeto of this patent
IS IN the first place, their method Of repeating in low relief
somethng like photographic printing surface the traccIy of
engraved woodbock copperpate from cut or enerav
ing from such block plate, in such Immediately
10 yield impressions which are not in any way to be dis
tngushed from those drawn from the original engraved
face This Is effected by means of acids, diluted to
rous degrees Of strength which upon those parts the
plates remaining unprotected by the ink leave the
printing surface very slightly in relief Another chief merit
OF the invention is the successful provision against the spread
ing of the ink under degree Of PRESSURE whereby finest
lines and sharpest edges repeated with singular precision
Another extraordinary result of the invention the restoration
Of the ancient injured engrayings etchngthat
engraving has been inurcd-no be understood regards
the paper but faded through caeessness eaced by acct
densuch engraving be perfectly restored by having
cry line and touch refreshed with ink to give the
work. with all its Details fresh from the wood copper
10 describe briefly the preparation Of plate cylinder,
let us suppose newspaper about to be reprinted by this
means The sheet is first mosened with diluted acid and
placed between sheets of botng paper, in order that
eruous moisture may be absorbed The ink neutrazes the
acid, which is pressed out from the blank space only and
eches them away In all where the letter of
recent date or not perhaps older than half year. few mi
nutes suffice for this purpose. The paper then carefully
placed upon the plate with which the leer-press be
ierred is in immediate contact and the whole passed under
press, removal from which, and carefully scngagng
the pape the letters found the plate
which then rubbed with preparation Of gum after which
the letters receive addition of ink which is Immediately
Incorporated with that by which they are already formed
These operations effected in few minutes The surface
OF the plate round the letters is bitten very slight degree
by the dcd and application of the ink il rejected by the
and received only by the letters which charged with
ink by the roller used in prinng Each letter
came from the press if had been imprinted by type
and the copies ac-smes which cannot distinguished
from the original sheet
Thus far it may be necessary describe the process that
It may be understood by those Of readers who
vesant with photographic manipulation those who are will
recognise some similarity in the method Of preparing the
and the zinc, as far regards the gum &c The practical
y OF transferring etterpress, especially prepared quite
recent to stone zinc has long been known. main adj
vantage, however, and most important one possessed by
The Inc the stone, material 10 work from,
and being easily formed into cylinder; for al
though we have only spoken Of plate of zinc in relation
with the results have Witnessed is to be understood that
in the extensive operations cylinders will be employed
IL Is not our purpose 10 enter mnutely into the
c raonaa of this patent but il is business consider
is prospective utilities. II cannot be received otherwise by
stock booksellers, than esmabe BOOM since will at
spersede the necessity of warehousng tons Of eeo
type and paper There may hencefoward be printed only
short editions Of heavy works. of others of questionable
sale for f such work ego off beyond the expectations
Of the bookseller reprints abundance may be effected from
single remaining copy, at expedient interval And the
advantage the public must follow, in the reprnting at
ordng the ordinary method would be hazardous being
extremely expensive Again, for book illustration nothing
,oud be BETTER the feeling Of the original drawing being en-
irey preserved since the work Of the artist passes umed
,tely from his hand to the page which il Is intended to
sdorn Thus 1t Is that the work brought forward
according to the taste Of the engave but what character
receives from the artist ultimately distinguished by
he same on the paper We may hope that the finest line
'ngravngs may also be reproduced a hifng expense
what treasures therefore, Of fine may common enter
Prise call forth for the publication of public taste will be
understood that speak Of the system from actual inspection
having seem IN hive minutes eter-pess and drawings
erred TO the zinc and forthwith printed Off
We know Of printer whose stock Of ereoypcs has cost
10 less sum than three hundred thousand pounds and il is
probable that there exists the London warehouses stereotype
property for which upwards Of million has been paid Sure
IN extensive establishments the employment Of such means
or the multiplication Of books be saving the printer
so to the bookseller, and consequently benefit TO the pub
c tor the supply will create demand which may ultimately
answered by the multiplication Of valuable books proceed
ng at square, nay, at cubic, ratio We have spo
en OF few OF the purposes which Anastac Printing
nay be addressed is impossible speculate on the uses
which may be applied in fherance Of useful art the prin-
pe is however, happy and perfect adaptation to answer an
nd OF ncaculabe public benefit and that this may be specd
IN progress of realization be the wish Of all interested
the weIlbeng Of art and the cultivation Of letters
The popeors not having yet established their seampes
will be clearly understood that the we speak Of have
cen produced by small hand Il confidently hoped
hat the results with steam win be less satisfactory this
owever remains to be proved Should corresponding sue
by this attend the efforts of the inventor the most
marvellous results for Immediately sup
lies power whereby such paper the Times might be
multiplied TO the amount Of 900, 900 copies in day. And
lot to forget the value OF the invention regards art such