IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC FICTURES ON WCOD
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Spence, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OF TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC FICTURES ON WCOD."-A communi-
cation from Charles B. Boyle, residing in the United States of America.
Sealed the 1st July 1859, and dated the 7th January 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Spence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th January 1859.
I, WILLIAM SPENCE, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent,do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN THE MODE OF TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES ON WOOD," (being a com-
munication from Charles B. Boyle, residing in the United States of America)
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a process of preparing the block and applying the
silver solution thereto, by which an unchangeable picture may be produced
directly upon the surface of the wood without injury to its fibre.
One method of applying the Invention may be described as follows:-Take
the white of an egg, mix it with about one-half of its volume of water, and
beat the whole into a white froth; then with a brush or with a piece of soft
napped fabric carefully moisten the face of the block with this fluid, and
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page_text: allow it to sink in and dry by natural evaporation. The surface of the
block is then ready for the application of solution No. 2, which is made by
dissolving thirty grains of Russian isinglass and two grains of chloride of
sodium in one ounce of warm water. When the solution is complete and
while yet warm, it is rubbed over the face of the block, as described, with
reference to the first solution, and allowed to sink in and dry; a heat is then
applied to the block, sufficient to coagulate the albumen which underlies the
gelatine within the pores of the wood. Another coat of gelatine solution may
then be applied, and any excess of gelatine which appears on the surface
must be removed. The block is now ready for the silver solution, which is
applied in the same manner as to paper, with the exception that sufficient
friction is employed to remove any film of gelatine which may cover the word,
and so bring the silver solution into direct contact with the surface of the wood
itself. The printing is then performed precisely as on paper, except that the
picture is made much darker than it is intended to remain.
The solvent or fixing and toning solution is then applied in a heated state,
which not only produces the ordinary effect, as in photographs on paper, but
dissolves the gelatine,and thereby frees the pores of the wood from everything
but the coagulated albumen, and effaces all parts of the picture except such
as were taken directly upon the surface of the wcod. Either the albumen or
the gelatine may be used alone with considerable success, but the best resuits
have been found to be produced by their combined use, as above described.
The process may be successfully applied in the following manner, to blocks
which have been previously pumiced and whitened as if intended to receive a
drawing-Beat up the albumen of an egg with an equal volume of water in
which about ten grains of common salt have been dissolved, and this mixture
after straining is ready for use. The whitened block is now laid in a horizontal
position, and enough of the fluid applied to moisten its whole face,care being
observed to avoid disturbing the white surface. The albumen will soak into
the pores,and dry by natural evaporation,and it is then coagulated by heat,as
before explained. This process may be repeated (without injury to the white
surface) until the pores are filled, coagulating, and afterwards allowing the
block to cool each time. The surface is then ready for the nitrate solution,
which when applied comes into actual contact with the surface of the wood,
but without penetrating to any injurious extent. The picture is then taken
on substantially the same principle as a photograph on paper.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Spence in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th July 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SPENCE, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign,did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Spence, Her special license that I, the said William Spence,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Spence, 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 make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODE OF TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES ON WOOD," being a communication
from Charles B. Boyle, residing in the United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that 1, the said William Spence, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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 William Spence, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention of "Improvements in the Mode of Taking Photographic
Pictures on Wood" consists in a process of preparing the block and applying
the silver solution thereto,by which an unchangeable picture may be produced
directly upon the surface of the wood without injury to its fibre.
One method of applying the Invention may be described as follows:- Take
the white of an egg, mix it with about one-half of its volume of water, and
beat the whole into a white froth; then with a brush or with a piece of soft
napped fabric, carefully moisten the face of the block with this fluid, and

page_text: allew it to sink in and dry by natural evaporation. The surface of the block
is then ready for the application of solution No.2,which is made by dissolving
about thirty grains of Russian isinglass and two grains of chloride of sodium
in one ounce of warm water. When the solution is complete, and while yet
warm, it is rubbed over the face of the block, as described with reference to
the first solution, and allowed to sink in and dry. A dry heat is then applied
to the block sufficient to coagulate the albumen which underlies the gelatine
within the pores of the wood. Another coat of gelatine solution may then be.
applied, which generally presents a glazed appearance in some places, indi-
cating that the pores of the wood are filled to the surface thereof. Any excess
of gelatine which appears on the surface.is removed by scraping with a knife
or otherwise, and the block is then ready for the silver solution, with the
exception that sufficient friction is employed to remove any film of gelatine
which may cover the wood, and so bring the silver solution into direct contact
with the surface of the wood itself. The printing is then performed precisely
as on paper, except that the picture is made much darker than it is intended
for it to remain. The solvent or fixing and toning solution is then applied in
a heated state, which not only produces the ordinary effect, as in photographs
on paper, but also by its heat dissolves and removes the gelatine, and thereby
frees the pores of the wood from everything but the coagulated albumen, and
effaces all parts of the picture except such as were taken directly upon the
surface of the wood. It is therefore needful, as before stated, that the picture
should be originally printed so deeply as to obliterate or conceal a large part
of its forms, which reappear on the removal of the gelatine.
The combined use of the albumen and gelatine when thus applied has the
following advantages:-The albumen is first applied in order to form, when
coagulated by direct heat, an insoluble base within the pores of the wood; the
gelatine is then applied in such quantity as to fill the pores without spreading
over the surface of the wood, and from its not being readily soluble in cold
water, it allows the silver solution to become incorporated with the substance
of the wood, but prevents its undue penetration. After the printing is
completed, the warm "fixing" solution removes the gelatinous matter which
would otherwisecause inconvenience in engraving and stereotyping,and leaves
the surface of the wood in its natural state, as required; the coagulated
albumen being free from any viscid property, causes no inconvenience to the
engraver or stereotyper.
The picture produced by this process is not liable to injury by friction, and
admits of the surface of the block being sponged or washed, if found necessary.

page_text: Either the albumen or the gelatine may be used alone with considerable
success, but the best results have been found to be produced by their combined
use, as above described.
་
The process may be successfully applied in the following manner, to blocks
which have been previously pumiced and whitened, as if intended to receive a
drawing: Beat up the albumen of an egg with an equal volume of water, in
which about ten grains of common salt have been dissolved, and this mixture
after stirring is ready for use. The whitened block is now laid in a horizontal
position, and enough of the fluid applied to moisten its whole face, care being
taken to avoid disturbing the white surface; the albumen will soak into the
pores, and dry by natural evaporation; and it is then coagulated by heat, as
before explained. This process may be repeated (without injury to the white
surface) until the pores are filled, coagulating and afterwards allowing the
block to cool each time. The surface is then ready for the nitrate solution,
which, when applied, comes into actual contact with the surface of the wood,
but without penetrating to any injurious extent. The picture is then taken on
substantially the same principle as a photograph on paper.
This process has the following characteristics, and obviates the following
difficulties, which have been experienced in the application of photography to
wood engraving:-
First, the picture does not change by exposure to light.
Secondly, the fibre of the wood is not injured as it is by many bases which
have been employed to prevent the penetration of the silver solution.
Thirdly, the picture is not liable to be defaced previous to or during the act
of engraving, as is the case when the silver solution is applied directly in the
form of a chloride, or when it is prevented from coming into contact with the
surface of the wood by the application or intervention of a film of collodion or
other matter.
Fourthly, no viscid substance is left in the wood to cause inconvenience to
the engraver, or adhere to the mould in stereotyping.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that what I claim as
of the Invention communicated to me as aforesaid, is, the application of the
albumen in such a manner, as to form an insoluble base within the pores of
the wood, and the taking of photographic pictures on wood, the pores of which
have been filled with gelatinous matter, and subsequently removingthegelatine
from the block without injury to the picture, by the application of a warm
solvent, thereby preventing the undue penetration of the sensitive solution,

page_text: while the photographic image or picture is taken directly on the surface of the
wood itself.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Spence, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
GEORGE BEDELL COULCHER,
Law Stationer,
50, Chancery Lane.
WILLIAM SPENCE. (L.s.)