A PROCESS, OF PHOTO- GRAPHIC PROOFS WITH PRINTING OR AUTOGRAPHIC INK, FOR THE PURPOSE OF EITHER USING THEM AS SUCH, OR PLACING THEM BACK ON LITHOGRAPHIC STONES OR ON METAL
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edouard Isaac Asser, of Amsterdam, in the Kingdom
of the Netherlands, Lawyer, for the Invention of "A PROCESS, OF PHOTO-
GRAPHIC PROOFS WITH PRINTING OR AUTOGRAPHIC INK, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
EITHER USING THEM AS SUCH, OR PLACING THEM BACK ON LITHOGRAPHIC STONES
OR ON METAL."
Sealed the 21st August 1860, and dated the 28th February 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edouard Isaac Asser at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th February 1860.
I, EDOUARD ISAAC ASSER, of Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of the Nether-
lands, Lawyer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"A PROCESS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOFS WITH PRINTING OR AUTOGRAPHIC INK, FOR
THE PURPOSE OF EITHER USING THEM AS SUCH, OR PLACING THEM BACK ON LITHO-
GRAPHIC STONES, OR ON METAL," to be as follows:-
I propose steeping unsized paper in a solution of bichromate of potash, and
after drying it in the dark to obtain the likeness or impression by a negative
on glass or other transparent negative, to be, together with the above-
mentioned prepared paper, submitted to the light in an ordinary frame. The
likeness or impression secured, I propose to dissolve in water the bichromate
untouched by the light, and after drying thoroughly at a great heat, to wet

page_text: the back of the paper carrying the impression, and place it upon a paper
without size, damped and stretched upon a glass or other flat and hard
substance, the impression being uppermost. I then purpose charging the paper
with printing ink by a roller or rubber until the picture is well brought out
in black and white, charging the picture with ink by this process to preserve
the whites perfectly untouched. I further purpose steeping the picture in
water containing a little nitric acid or other similar acid to dissolve the
bichromate of potash remaining upon the paper after receiving the impression
from the light and being charged with ink. The theory is very similar to
that of lithography, that is to say, it rests on the principle that oily matters do
not combine with water; it therefore follows that fatty inks of several colours
may be used. By charging the impression with autographic ink, in the
mauner before described, I propose obtaining a stereotype suitable for transfer
to a lithographic stone, from which prints may be thrown off. This transfer
may take place in like manner upon any material used for autographic
printing, such as zinc, copper, or other. It will be advisable, as well for the
positives above mentioned, which are to be retained as positives, as for those
to be used as transfers, to place upon that side of the paper which is to receive
the impression, and before soaking in bichromate of potash, a coat of starch
dissolved in warm water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edouard Isaac Asser in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th August 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDOUARD
ISAAC ASSER, of Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Lawyer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letter's
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edouard Isaac Asser, Her special licence that I, the said Edouard Isaac Asser,
my executors,administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edouard
Isaac Asser, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might mako, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the

page_text: Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A PROCESS OF Рното-
GRAPHIC PROOPS WITH PRINTING OR AUTOGRAPHIC INK, FOR THE PURPOSE OF EITHER
USING THEM AS SUCH, OR PLACING THEM BACK ON LITHOGRAPHIC STONES, OR ON
METAL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edouard
Isaac Asser, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edouard Isaac Asser, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
I take paper prepared without size, and steep it in a solution of bichromate
of potash; I then dry it in the dark, and by a negative on glass or other
transparent negative, placed in an ordinary frame and exposed to the light
with the paper, prepared as above described, I bring the object upon the
paper. The impression thus obtained, I dissolve in water the bichromate of
potash upon which the light has not struck. After perfectly drying the paper
bearing the impression, I wet it on the back, and place it upon a paper not
ized, but damped and stretched upon a glass or other flat and hard object, the
impression being uppermost; I then pass over it a roller charged with printing
ink until the impression shews well in black. I then steep the impression in
water containing a little nitric or other acid, which will dissolve the bichromate
of potash still upon the positive, and remove it from the paper. After
drying the positive is ready. The theory is as near as may be that of
lithography, that is to say, it is based upon the principle that water will not
combine with a fatty or oily matter. The sheet of paper not sized may be
coated with starch previous to its immersion in the bichromate of potash, as
much to prevent any picking of the paper as to facilitate the transfer, which
I will now describe. By passing a roller charged with autographic ink over
the impression obtained by bichromate of potash, and treated as above
described, I obtain a stereotype suitable for transfer by pressure on to a
lithographic stone, from which I draw, by the process known as lithography,
autographic prints; this transfer may be made in like nanner upon any of
the matters which may be used on the same principle for every description of
autographic printing, as, for example, zinc or copper, either for reproduction
after what is usually termed zincography, or by the aid of galvanoplastic,

page_text: hollow or in relief. In some cases the inking may be effected with a rubber
instead of a roller, as above described.
Ju witness whereof, I, the said Edouard Isaac Asser, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
LOUIS WOUTERS,
30, Rue d. Namur,
Bruxelles.
EDOUARD ISAAC ASSER. (L.S.)