IMPROVEMENTS IN NATURE-PRINTING
Year: 1884

page_text: I, THOMAS HONYWOOD, of Courtenay House, The Causeway, Horsham, in the
County of Sussex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN NATURE-PRINTING to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in the method or methods of obtaining
prints from natural objects and in multiplying such prints as may be desired and by
means of my improvements I am able to obtain nature-prints, not only from flat
surfaces, but also from such as may be convex, or of irregular or even of angular
figure, and to produce an appearance of perspective projection and to combine
prints of separate objects into one, so that I am able to introduce considerable
artistic design into such nature prints, and to render nature printing applicable
for work not hitherto attempted.
In obtaining impressions of solid substances such as Fruit, Fish & I generally
make use of a mask or guard, which I make by cutting out in a sheet of suitable
inaterial, preferably cardboard, a hole of the exact size and shape of the object to
be represented and either print directly from the object itself through this guard
or, if the surfaco of the object is too convex or irregular to admit of this being
done I proceed in the manner following; supposing the object I wish to represent
to be a piece of fruit, or any similar object, I first obtain an impression from one
entire side or balf of it and then transfer this impression to the surface on which
the print is to be made, at the same time bringing the various parts or markings
into their proper perspective positions.-This I accomplish by spreading over the
inked surface of the object to be represented a sheet of thin soft transparent
material, which being pressed on every part of the inked surface of one half of the
object, takes a faithful impression of every marking and irregularity on that side
of it.-I next lay the guard or mask before described over the part of the receiving
surface on which I wish to represent the object and then laying the centre of the
impression I have obtained over the centre of the opening in the guard I proceed
to print from it a retransfer on to the receiving surface, drawing as I do so the
thin transparent material together as may be necessary to place the various
markings of the surface of the object in their proper relative positions, and I finish
up the representation by tinting in a surface color and shadow and by this means
and by, in some cases, dissecting the object as hereinafter mentioned I am able to
produce fairly exact and highly characteristic representations of objects which.

page_text: appear at first sight most unsuitable for representation by such a process, even such
as a bough of a tree with leaves and fruit &°. When the nature of the subject
admits of such treatment I print directly from the surface of the object itself as
before mentioned and in such cases I gently roll the object on the receiving surface
so as to bring every part of it consecutively into contact with the receiving surface,
the guard or mask meanwhile preventing any impression being accidentally made
beyond the proper area.
In other cases in which a rigid surface which cannot be brought into a plane has
to be printed from I dissect the object into a number of sections or short lengths,
and either employ on the separate pieces the method before described or having
inked their surfaces I press each piece separately on the receiving surface, fitting
each piece to the next so as to produce a complete representation of the whole, and
I afterwards complete this by a few hand touches.
When the object to be represented is a very delicate one, and too fragile to be
inked and operated upon in the usual manner, as for instance the web of a spider,
I make use of the dry pigment in a very fine powder and blow it gently over the
object until it is sufficiently coated and I then enclose the object between two
sheets of paper which being gently pressed together retain the object so that it
may be removed and pressed.
If only a few copies are required they may be produced singly by the process
the outlines of which are given above, but when many copies are wanted, the
impression is to made in Lithographic transfer ink on a stone, to be printed from
in the usual way, or the impression may be first obtained on paper and may be
dealt with by transfer or by any of the well known methods of producing a
printing surface. For the surface decoration of pottery I employ substantially the
same process but make use of an ink or inks specially prepared for that purpose.
For printing in color I employ the oxides of metals or other suitable pigments
and apply the various colors to the various parts of the object, the color laid on
any one part of the object corresponding with the color of that part of the object
itself.
By means of my process above described, or some part of it, I am able to produce
representations of natural objects with great fidelity and minuteness of detail and
admirably suited for the illustration of scientific and other books, representation
of botanical specimens of great size, beauty and perfection can thus be produced
quickly and cheaply, representations of many objects of natural history such for
instance as fishes can be produced with a degree of perfection leaving little to be
desired, the details even of every scale of a large fish being faithfully rendered and
the characteristic appearance of each kind being strikingly brought out. Minute
objects also may be represented by this process with such fidelity as to reproduce
details which can only be seen, either in the original or the print, under the
microscope.
Dated the Eighteenth dew of February 1881

page_text: I, THOMAS HONYWOOD, of Courtenay House, The Causeway, Horsham, in the
County of Sussex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
""
"IMPROVEMENTS IN NATURE-PRINTING" and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My Invention relates to improvements in the method or methods of obtaining
prints from natural objects and in multiplying such prints as may be desired, by
which improvements I am able to obtain nature-prints, not only from flat surfaces,
but also from such as may be convex, or of irregular or even of angular figure, and
to produce an appearance of perspective projection, and to combine prints of separate
objects into one, so that I am able to introduce an element of artistic design into
such nature prints and to render nature printing applicable for work to which it
has not hitherto been applied.
In obtaining impressions of solid substances such as Fruit, Fish & Igenerally
make use of a mask or guard, which I can make by cutting out in a sheet of
suitable material, preferably cardboard, a hole of the exact size and shape of the
object to be represented, and either print directly from the object itself through
this guard, or, if the surface of the object is too convex or irregular to admit of this
being done, I proceed in the manner following. Supposing the object I wish to
represent to be a piece of fruit, or any similar object, first obtain an impression
from one entire side or half of it and then transfer this impression to the surface on
which the print is to be made at the same time bringing the various parts or
markings into their proper perspective positions.-This I accomplish by spreading
over the inked surface of the object to be represented a sheet of thin soft
transparent material, which being pressed on every part of the inked surface of one
half of the object, takes a faithful impression of every marking and irregularity on
that side of it. I next lay the guard or mask before described over the part of the
receiving surface on which I wish to represent the object and then laying the centre
of the impression I have obtained over the centre of the opening in the guard I
proceed to print from it a retransfer on to the receiving surface, drawing as I do so
the thin transparent material together as may be necessary to place the various
markings of the surface of the object in their proper relative positions, and I finish
up the representation by tinting in a surface color and shadow and by this means,
and by, in some cases, dissecting the object as hereinafter mentioned I am able to
produce fairly exact and highly characteristic representations of objects which appear
at first sight most unsuitable for representation by such a process, even such as a
bough of a tree with leaves and fruit &c. When the nature of the subject admits
of such treatment I print directly from the surface of the object itself as before
mentioned, and in such cases I gently roll the object on the receiving surface, so as
to bring every part of it consecutively into contact with the receiving surface, the
guard or mask meanwhile preventing any impression being accidentally made
beyond the proper area.
In other cases in which a rigid surface which cannot be brought into a plane has
to be printed from I dissect the object into a number of sections or short lengths,
and either employ on the separate pieces the method before described, or having
inked, their surfaces I press each separately on the receiving surface, fitting each
piece to the next so as to produce a complete representation of the whole, and I
afterwards complete this by a few hand touches.

page_text: When the object to be represented is a very delicate one, and too fragile to be
inked and operated upon in the usual manner, as for instance, the web of a spider, I
make use of the dry pigment in a very fine powder and blow it gently over the
object until it is sufficiently coated, and I then enclose the object between two
sheets of paper which being gently pressed together retain the object so that it may
be removed and pressed.
If only a few copies are required they may be produced singly by the process the
outlines of which are given above, but when many copies are wanted, the impression
is to be made in Lithographic transfer ink on a stone, to be printed from in the usual
way, or the impression may be first obtained on paper and may be dealt with by
transfer or by any of the well known methods of producing a printing surface. For.
the surface decoration of pottery I employ substantially the same process but make
use of an ink or inks specially prepared for that purpose.
For printing in color I employ the oxides of metals or other suitable pigments,
and apply the various colors to the various parts of the object, the color laid on any
one part of the object corresponding with the color of that part of the object itself.
By means of my process above described, or some part of it, I am able to produce
representations of natural objects with great fidelity and minuteness of detail and
admirably suited for the illustration of scientific and other books; representations
of botanical specimens of great size, beauty, and perfection, can thus be produced
quickly and cheaply, representations of many objects of natural history, such for
instance as fishes, can be produced with a degree of perfection leaving little to be
desired, the details even of the scales of a large fish being faithfully rendered and
the characteristic appearance of each kind being strikingly brought out.-Minute
objects also may be represented by this process with such fidelity as to reproduce
details which can only be seen, either in the original or the print, under the
microscope..
My said process is applicable, among other things, for the production of patterns
for wall papers, for the decoration of panels and ceilings, for the decoration of
pottery and for the production of stained glass. It is moreover admirably adapted
for the use of travellers and scientific explorers, as so little apparatus is necessary
and the operation can be so quickly performed.
As the success with which representations of natural objects can be produced
by my process depends to some extent on the skill and manual dexterity of the
operator, I will now describe in detail the manner in which I proceed with some
typical objects, so as to enable the reader to perform the same operations and to
apply the process to such other suitable objects as he may desire.
If then we take a small bough from a rose tree, by way of example, I proceed
as follows: If the leaves are wet I press them carefully between sheets of blotting
paper until all superfluous moisture is removed, but it is an advantage that they
should remain damp. I then take a sheet of paper similar in shape and size to
that on which I intend to print, and lay the bough on it as nearly as may be in
the position in which it is to be represented, I then with a sharp knife cut off each
of the shoots, laying them to the right and left of the main stem in their respective
positions. I then take the main stem and carefully rub over it on that side which
was lying uppermost some ink or pigment bereinafter described, using a piece of
Chamois leather for the purpose, and then laying the stem in its proper position
with its inked side downwards on the sheet of paper or other receiving surface on
which the impression is to be made, I proceed, commencing at one end, and
gradually working towards the other, to press the stem on to the paper or other
receiving surface. If the stem is slight a very fair representation of it is thus
obtained, and it is only necessary to touch up defective parts later on, but if the
bough is a larger one and of hard woody texture so that it cannot be pressed upon
the paper, I, having inked one side or half of it, press on to it a piece of thin and
partly transparent paper, preferably tracing paper, using some one of the softer and
more flexible kinds according to the strength required for the particular case,-and
then using a mask hereinafter described, if the bough is a very large one, I press

page_text: the thin paper which has received the impression of the bough, on to the sheet of
paper or other receiving surface on which the representation is to be made,
drawing the two sides of the impression of the stem together if necessary to mako
it of proper width, and bring all impressions of knots and other marks into their
proper positions.
Having thus represented the main stem I next take one of the shoots or single
leaves (if any) which have been cut off beginning preferably with those at the
upper end of the bough, I lay the shoot on the inking board, and with the leather
pad I dab and smear the ink over the leaves and stems, rubbing it into the surface
veins of the leaves and leaving a thin coating on all the surfaces.-I then place the
shoot with its inked side downwards on the paper or other receiving surface
on which it is to be printed, so that the cut end of the shoot fits against the
representation of the part of the stem from which it was cut,-I cover the shoot
with a piece of paper and press it on to the surface on which it lies, beginning at
the cut end, and rubbing it with my fingers, and gradually working towards the
other extremities, pressing each leaf and stem carefully; the impression left on the
paper covering the shoot affording a good indication of which parts have been
pressed sufficiently, and which have not.
The ink from the surface of the leaves gives a faint surface tint, and the ink
within the surface veins and depressions produces black or dark lines as in Copper
plate printing.
This process I repeat with each of the remaining pieces cut from the bough until
the whole of them have been disposed of.
If the bough is a large one and the time occupied in the operation is considerable,
several days for instance, the leaves wither before they can be used, when this
takes place I cut off the leaves at the foot of the leaf stalk, laying each leaf in
its proper position and treat the stem separately first, and then immerse each leaf
as required for use in a mixture of Spirits of wine and water, consisting of about
one third of rectified Spirits of Wine and two thirds of boiling water for about one
minute, by which they are uncurled and softened and rendered as fit for use as
when fresh gathered.
Having thus obtained a representation of the whole length I go carefully over
it and with a leather stump, such as is used for crayon drawing, the tip of which
I moisten with the ink used for printing, and fill up any blanks, and complete any
imperfect parts.
If the object to be represented is a branch bearing apples and leaves I proceed in
the manner just described to obtain a print from the stem, for which purpose, when
the stem is of a hard or woody character, as in the case of an apple tree, I cut it
up into convenient lengths, generally cutting it at each considerable bend, after
which each part is easily dealt with separately in the manner hereinbefore described.
The small shoots and leaves are then treated in the same manner as I have described
in the case of the Rose branch.
I next take one of the apples and cut it in two through the eye and stalk or in
such other plane as I may desire to represent it. I then lay the cut surface on a
piece of stout paper or card and mark carefully round the half apple, and then cut
out with a penknife a hole in the paper corresponding with the outline of the
apple, this I call a mask and I lay it on the surface on which I am printing in
the exact place in which the apple is to be represented; I then adopt one of the two
processes next following to print the apple on the space indicated, either I rub the
half apple over with pigment and press it directly on to the paper on which it is
to be printed, rolling it so as to bring each part into contact with the receiving
surface, and taking care to get good impressions of any marks or defects on its
surface; or I more often, having inked the half apple, press on to it some soft
semitransparent material, by preference tracing paper, and afterwards press the
paper which has been so impressed with the markings of the apple on to the
receiving surface through the mask before described, taking care to bring each of
the markings, the eye, (if it is to be shown) and other things, into their proper

page_text: positions, and with due regard to perspective projection, which is not difficult
as the softness of the thin paper, and its semitransparency, afford considerable
facilities.
After the impression is thus taken I finish up with the stump before mentioned,
putting in a shadow on one side, and completing any imperfect parts.
When one or more leaf or leaves have to be represented as partly hidden
by others which they are behind, I first print the leaves which are in front and are
wholly seen, and then reinking them I take a second impression of them on a piece
of paper with which I make a mask by cutting away carefully round the edges of
the impression, leaving a piece of paper of the exact size and shape of the leaves
already printed, this mask I lay over the print already made, and then lay
the leaves which are to be represented as behind the others; properly inked, on
the receiving surface and partly over the mask, and press as before described: the
portions of the receiving surface already printed on being thus protected by the
guard, the last impression appears to pass behind the impression previously made.
When the object is too delicate to allow of the color being dabbed on to it,
I make use of a fine dry powder for which I prefer to use black oxide of
manganese, and blow it over the object, which I then press between sheets of
paper. For instance I treat the web of a spider in this manner: first blowing the
black powder over it, for which purpose I lay some of the powder on a sheet of
paper or cardboard, and placing it near the web I blow with my mouth, in a series
of gentle puffs, until the powder is sufficiently and evenly distributed over the
web. I then take a large sheet of white paper and fold and crease it, then
bringing one fold of it under or behind the web, I draw it forwards until the web
rests on it, and then I close the other half of the sheet over it and tear the web
away from its attachments, and press it between the two sides of the folded sheet,
and by this. means I obtain a very perfect and clear impression of the web with
its endless variety of structural arrangements.-Such a print cannot be used for
transfer purposes direct but must be re-produced by Photography or by tracing in
transfer ink and thus converted into a printing surface, or placed on the stone.
In obtaining prints from Fishes I prepare a mask as before described, then ink
one side of the fish and press it through the mask on to the receiving surface, the
elasticity of the body being sufficient to enable me to bring each part in succession
into contact with the receiving surface, or sometimes I take a print of the fish (or
other object) on thin, preferably tracing, paper as before described in the paragraph
relating to the method of obtaining prints from Apples, and then transfer it to the
receiving surface; any parts requiring separate treatment may be cut off or
excluded by the mask, and printed separately after the body is finished.
In order to obtain Nature prints from rigid and irregular objects, such for
instance as flint implements, I proceed as follows:-I first ink one side of the
object, say the flint implement laying it more thickly on those parts which are to
be represented as in shadow, and otherwise shading as I may desire,-I then lay
over the inked object a piece of tracing paper and carefully press it on to every
part of the object. This being done I remove the tracing paper and lay it on the
receiving surface and press and rub it evenly, so as to produce a good transfer, and
for this purpose I find that rubbing with a burnisher gives excellent results.
The nature print may be made on paper in which case it may be used for the
preparation of a printing surface by any of the various well known processes, such
as Photo Lithography, Photo Zincography, Photo etching, &c; or the original
nature print may be made in transfer ink, on transfer paper, and be then
transferred to the stone or it may be made on the stone direct.
For printing on paper I prefer to use a pigment made by reducing a soft black
crayon to a fine powder and mixing it with Linseed Oil, and I prefer to mix this
as I require it, by dipping the dabber from time to time into the crayon powder
and then rubbing it on an inking board with a few drops of oil, until it is
sufficiently mixed and evenly spread.

page_text: When I wish to make a single, or a few prints in colors, I employ the powdered
colors ordinarily sold at color shops and use a separato dabber for each color,-
blending the colors if required on the subject itself, and matching them accurately
with the colors of the parts of the object on which they are laid.
When a number of colored prints are to be produced I take an impression in
black ink and then prepare a series of stones or blocks, one of each color, to work
from in the ordinary manner of color-printing or chromo-lithography.
For decorating pottery I print direct from the natural object on to the biscuit
ware, using an ink composed of Linseed Oil and Black oxide of Manganese, or
other pigment capable of bearing the heat of the fire, for which purpose almost any
of the colors ordinarily used for painting pottery may be used.
Glass I treat in the same manner as Pottery except that the colors suitable for
the purpose are less numerous, being generally such only as are transparent. Any
of the Colors ordinarily used for staining glass may be used, and on account of the
glazed character of the surface of the glass I coat it first with a film of albumen,
preferably the white of an egg, and when that is dry I print on it as on any
receiving surface.
The burning in, both in the case of Pottery and glass, requires to be conducted
carefully, and a rather lower temperature maintained than in the case of hand
work, because the layer of color is less thick than when laid on by hand. Textile
fabrics may be decorated either by printing directly on them from the object, or
they may be printed from a stone by lithography, or from a printing surface."
In the case of very minute objects, such for instance as the scales of butterflies,
I attach them to a slip of glass by cement,-Canada Balsam answers well for this
purpose, and then proceed with them as before described.
I have now given examples of the methods of dealing with several objects which
serve to illustrate the details of the said process, and I wish it to be understood
that I do not claim as my invention the processes, or any of them, for transferring
to the stone a picture when once made, nor do I claim the method of producing
any of the various kinds of printing surfaces from the prints, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1-The method of producing Nature prints from uneven curved or angular
surfaces without the use of a press substantially as hereinbefore described,
whereby to obtain or combine representations of different objects.
2-The use in the production of Nature Prints of a Guard or Mask as and for
the purposes described.
3-The method of obtaining Prints from uneven curved or angular surfaces by
making a Print on tracing paper or similar material and retransferring it
in the manner and for the purposes described and set forth.
4-The method of obtaining Nature Prints by dissecting the object and treating
the parts separately as and for the purposes described.
Dated this Eighteenth day of November 1884.
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Petitioner.