AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR FIXING LITHOGRAPHS AND ENGRAVINGS ON CANVAS AFTER BEING TRANSPOSED OR REPRODUCED BY A PRINTING PRESS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Adolphe Ferdinand Besnard, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, and of 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR FIXING LITHOGRAPHS
AND ENGRAVINGS ON CANVAS AFTER BEING TRANSPOSED OR REPRODUCED BY A
PRINTING PRESS."
Sealed the 24th April 1855, and dated the 10th February 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Adolphe Ferdinand
Besnard at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th February 1855.
I, LOUIS ADOLPHE FERDINAND BESNARD, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
and of 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of my Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR FIXING LITHOGRAPHS
AND ENGRAVINGS ON CANVAS AFTER BEING TRANSPOSED OR REPRODUCED BY A PRINTING
PRESS" to be as follows, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in combining substances in the manner herein-after
described for the production of a composition applicable to fixing the impres-
sions of lithographs and engravings produced by the press.
I place in a fire-proof vessel about a quart of soft water and a tablespoonful
of linseed and heat them to ebullition, maintaining them in that condition
during several minutes; I pass the liquid thro' a sieve, and pour the clear part

page_text: into another vessel. I introduce about one ounce of saccharine matter into
a tumbler of the said clear linseed water, and when its solution is effected I
pass the liquid thro' a fine cloth sieve; I pour the filtered part into about a
quart of the said linseed water.
I take about a quart of soft water and heat it in a sand bath to ebullition,
keeping it in that state about three minutes, during which time I pour it into
about two ounces of pure gelatine; I agitate the whole, withdraw it from
the fire, and pass it thro' a sieve. When this last preparation is effected, I
introduce it into a vessel containing the solution of linseed water and saccharine
matter; I heat the whole, and when arrived at ebullition I move it with a
brush. The application of the said solution fixes the impression on the canvass,
and after it is dry the ordinary picture varnish may be applied preparatory to
painting.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis Adolph Ferdinand Besnard in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th August 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
ADOLPH FERDINAND BESNARD, of Paris, in the Empire of France, and of
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Louis Adolph Ferdinand Besnard, Her special license that I, the
said Louis Adolph Ferdinand Besnard, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Louis Adolph Ferdinand Besnard, 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 ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR FIXING LITHO-
GRAPHS AND ENGRAVINGS ON CANVAS AFTER BEING TRANSPOSED OR REPRODUCED BY
A PRINTING PRESS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Louis
Adolph Ferdinand Besnard, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the

page_text: 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 Louis Adolph Ferdinand Besnard, 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 thereof, that is to say :—
My Invention consists in transferring and fixing, by means of a composition
on canvass or cloth duly prepared, all kinds of lithographic representations
and engravings, without removing any particles of the paper on which they
were made.
In a vessel specially adapted for this purpose, and capable of bearing heat, I
pour about a quart of soft water with a spoonful of linseed; this is heated to
ebullition for a few minutes, and is then withdrawn, strained, and the product
passed into another vessel. In half a glass of the water prepared as above I
dissolve 400 grains, troy, of saccharine matter, preferring pure white moist
sugar. When the solution is complete, I strain it through a fine linen, and
add it to the quart of water prepared as above described.
In a sand bath I heat a quart of water and maintain it in a state of ebulli-
tion; I then add in successive doses 800 grains, troy, of the purest and whitest
gelatine, and stir with a wooden spatula for about three minutes; I then with-
draw it from the fire and pass through a strainer. I pour the whole of the
solution thus prepared in the jar containing the solution of linseed water and
saccharine matter; I place it again on the fire, and when ebullition com-
mences I stir with a camel hair brush, which I withdraw saturated with the
liquid, and pass it quickly and lightly over the lithograph or engraving (which
has been previously transferred to the canvass to be painted by means of
transfer paper, which is entirely removed) up and down, across, and to & fro,
thus leaving the drawing completely freed from the smallest particle of paper.
This application of the above solution by the camel hair brush fixes instan-
taneously the drawing to the canvass. The drying of the canvass occupies
more or less time, according to temperature. I then coat with varnish by
means of a fish-tail brush, taking care to employ the varnish in the cold state,
and not too thick. The canvass thus prepared is ready for painting by the
ordinary methods.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise proportions herein laid down of the substances
employed, but reserve to myself the right of varying the proportions and
employing analogous matter, though preferring the formula above described;

page_text: but what I claim is, the preparation of a composition and process of
transferring and fixing lithographic images and engravings on cloth or
canvass.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Adolph Ferdinand Besnard, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
ADOL. BESNARD. (L.S.)