IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING CHINA, PORCELAIN, EARTHENWARE, AND OTHER LIKE WARES, AND FOR PRINTING ON PAPER, CALICOES, SILKS, WOOLLENS, OLLCLOTHS, LEATHER, AND OTHER FABRICS, AND POR AN IMPROVED MATERIAL TO BE USED IN PRINTING
Year: 1839

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
AUGUSTE DUCOTE, of 70, Saint Martin's Lane, in the County Middlesex,
Lithograplier, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-first day of November, in the third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Pierre Auguste Ducote, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Pierre Auguste Ducote, my exors, admors, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Pierre Auguste Ducote, my exors,
admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING
CHINA, PORCELAIN, EARTHENWARE, AND OTHER LIKE WARES, AND FOR PRINTING ON
PAPER, CALICOES, SILKS, WOOLLENS, OLLCLOTHS, LEATHER, AND OTHER FABRICS, AND
POR AN IMPROVED MATERIAL TO BE USED IN PRINTING;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso, that 1, the said Pierre Auguste Ducote, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
"

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Pierre Auguste Ducote, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof.(that is to say) :
According to the ordinary means now commonly used for printing on china,
porcelain, earthenware, and other like wares usually printed on), the same is
performed by means of impressions obtained from engraved surfaces of copper
or other metal, whether the printing be performed before or after the ware to
be printed be glazed. In printing before the glaze is applied, the impression is
taken from the engraved metal surface by means of a composition of glue and
treacle, similar to what is used for printers' rollers; and in printing on the ware,
after it is glazed, the impression is taken from the engraved metal surface on
to china, printers' tissue paper, all which is well understood; and it is desirable
to state that the designs or devices on the copper or other metal plates
employed have heretofore been produced by sinking with the graver and other
instruments, and in such manner, that the recesses produced into the copper or
other metal surface, when to be printed from, received the ink or other compo-
sition, as is well understood in printing from line and other such engravings on
copper and other metal surfaces, and it is well known that for that part of the
process of printing china and other such wares usually so printed, which is
called bat printing, or printing after glazing the engraving, is usually what is
termed "stippling," and is very costly; and although the description of engraving
employed when printing biscuit, or ware unglazed, is less costly, yet when the
design is elaborate and well executed the cost is very considerable, and owing
to the composition employed as inks or colors being very hard, it is necessary
to have the metal plates or surfaces kept exceedingly hot, which adds to the
cost of the process of printing, and also to difficulties which are ordinarily
found when printing from like engraved copper or other metal surfaces when
taking impressions therefrom for other purposes.
Now, the object of the first part of my Invention relates to a mode of
printing china and other like wares which are usually printed by the applica-
tion of impressions taken from lithographic stones, by which I am enabled to
produce more finished, elegant, and elaborate designs at much less cost. And
in order to give the best information in my power as to this part of my Inven-
tion, I will describe the process pursued by me, and in doing so I will suppose
that the device or design has been prepared or produced on the surface of the
lithographic stones to be employed, for it should be understood that the pro-
ducing or executing the design on the surface of lithographic stones forms no
part of my Invention, it being in fact performed according to any of the most

page_text: approved means known; and in place of using ink, as if the impression
were about to be taken on paper, I simply employ what is called litho-
graphic varnish, or boiled linseed oil, or other such material, and roll it
on to the design, as if using ink, and when the design is sufficiently charged
I apply glue in the state now used in taking impressions from the sunk
engravings of copper-plate or of other metal; or I employ a sheet of india-
rubber, or glue mixed with treacle, or such like material or materials, the
first part of my Invention not relating to the material employed but to
the employment of impressions taken from lithographic stones in the printing
of china, and other like wares, which are usually printed, and by pressing
the surfaces of glue, caoutchouc, or other composition on to the surfaces
of lithographic stones I obtain impressions thereon differing from those
heretofore employed, inasmuch as the impressions taken from lithographic
stones are not sunken engravings, as is the case when printing from engraved
copper and other plates, at the same time the impressions so obtained
from lithographic stones will be found peculiarly applicable to printing china
and other like wares, in addition to the advantages derivable from the cir-
cumstance of the facility with which designs of the most elegant and elaborate
description may be executed on stone. The impressions obtained as above
described are next to be applied to the glazed surfaces of the wares which are
to be printed, and this part of the process of printing is to be performed as if
applying impressions obtained from the sunk engravings on surfaces of copper
or other metal. I also use the dossill to press the oil or varnish from the glue,
caoutchouc, or composition on to the glazed surfaces of the ware, in like
manner to that practised when impressions from sunk engraving are being
used, and I prefer to cover the dossill with the glue, caoutchouc, or com-
position and to take the impression from the lithographic stone and transfer it
to the surface of the glazed ware, this mode being particularly applicable for
transferring small designs, and the dossill so prepared will not want changing
so often, but will simply require to be rubbed with a soft sponge containing
diluted caustic ley, or rubbed with the palm of the hand before an impres-
sion is taken thereon. Impressions having been thus transferred from litho-
graphic stones on to china, or other like ware to be printed, the design is to be
dusted over with the color powder, in like manner to what is now practised
when impressions from sunken engravings on copper are employed, and trans-
ferred on to glazed surfaces of ware, and according to what is well known in
printing china, and is called bat printing. In speaking of lithographic stones I
do not confine myself to the use of those brought from Germany and France, for
it is known there are many stones capable of like treatment, and are more or

page_text: less applicable to the purposes of my Invention, as they are for the purposes of
lithography, but I prefer the German stones. It is well known that there is
a process called zincography, which is the producing of designs on the surfaces
of zinc by a process very similar to lithography, in order to permit therefrom,
and such process may, though not so advantageously, be executed on the sur-
faces of other metals, all which is well known, and forms no part of my
Invention; and it is also known that suitable designs may be executed by the
artist on such surfaces with much greater facility than designs can be executed
by sunk engraving on copper and other suitable surfaces; and by such mode of
executing designs on metals (by preference on zinc), by the well-known means
above referred to, very elaborate and elegant designs may be produced for
printing from at much less cost than when sunk engravings are used. And the
second part of my Invention relates to a mode of printing china, porcelain,
earthenware, and other like wares, by transferring impressions taken from zinc
or other proper inetal surfaces prepared with designs executed according to
the means practised in zincography. And I would observe, that as such
process, so far as executing the designs thereon, is well known and in practice
for other purposes, and as the same in itself forms no part of my Invention, no
description thereof will be required in this my Specification. I will therefore
suppose that the design has been executed on the zinc or other metal plate or
surface and is ready to be printed from them. In place of employing inks in
order to print on paper, I pursue precisely the same means as above described
for transferring impressions from lithographic stones to china or other like
wares, by which means I am enabled to introduce the use of impressions taken
according to the known means of zincography or like processes applied to other
metals to the purposes of printing china, porcelain; earthenware, and other like
wares which are usually printed, and thus not only greatly reduce the cost of
printing such wares; but at the same time, owing to the peculiar character of
designing according to lithography and zincography, greater freedom, and
elegance of tone and style may be introduced than can be obtained when using
sunk engravings, as heretofore practised in printing china, porcelain, earthen-
ware, and other like wares. When it is desired to print on biscuit before
glazing, and in which cases the impressions are obtained on pottery tissue
paper, although lithographic and zincographic surfaces prepared and designed
as above explained would do to a limited extent, yet the product or
impressions when transferred first on to paper and then on to the unglazed
wares is generally too faint for the purpose, therefore in using lithographic
stones for obtaining impressions on paper suitable for being transferred to
unglazed wares I produce the design; device, or pattern, by removing the surfaces

page_text: of the stone by the action of suitable diluted acids known to act on such stones,
as are used for lithographic purposes, and for obtaining impressions from such
stones for the purpose of printing china and other like wares, I either use
flat surfaces or cylinders prepared as hereafter explained. When producing
an engraving on a flat surface of stone, I make the same even and then polish.
it, after which I take a ground, known amongst engravers as soft etching.
ground (or other composition capable of resisting the action of acid), which I
thin down to a sufficient state of fluidity with spirits of turpentine or naptha, &c.,
so as to enable me with a soft brush or otherwise to lay it even on to the
polished surface of the stone in order to resist the action of the acid used; or
in place of such ordinary ground I employ a composition consisting of two
parts of pure white wax, four parts of asphaltum, two parts of Burgundy pitch,
two parts of soap, all which are to be melted together in an earthenware
pipkin or other suitable vessel over a moderate heat, until by stirring the
materials about they become well incorporated or mixed together; the com-
position is then to be allowed to cool; it is then to be thinned down to about.
the thickness of thin honey, by a mixture in equal parts of linseed oil and oil
of turpentine or naptha, so as to enable the artist or workman to use the
composition with a brush, pen, or other article suitable for accurately and
beautifully delineating, drawing, or working the pattern, drawing, or device upon
the surface of the stone (similar to what is described in the Specification of my.
former Patent of the Twenty-sixth day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-nine). When the soft etching ground or composition is dry, before
proceeding to engrave, etch, or draw thereon, the artist will trace the outline of.
the design, device, or pattern, or as much of it as he may wish, in the usual.
manner that engravers or artists generally use to trace their designs or
drawings, unless he feels competent to draw, etch, or engrave the design, device,
or pattern without the assistance of tracing, in which case he will at once draw,.
etch, or engrave the design, device, or pattern upon the ground with points,
gravers, scrapers, dotting wheels, or any proper tools or instruments, as is well
understood, and in producing those effects of light and shades in the design,
devices, or patterns as may be required by removing such parts of the ground
and thereby laying the stone bare to be acted upon by diluted nitric or other
acid, which is known to act similarly on stone, which acid I apply to the surface
of the stone in order to obtain the design, device, or drawing to be engraved
or sunk, taking care, however, to watch the action of the acid, so that it shall
not act too much or too little, in order to render the sunk design, device, or
pattern smooth and perfect. The diluted nitric or other acid is about three
degrees of strength, and is brushed over the surface of the stone, or the surface

page_text: of the stone is inverted and immersed into a trough containing diluted acid,
washing the sunk surfaces well out with water in order to get rid of the acid,
I then wash off the
when the eating away of the stone is thought sufficient.
etching ground with spirits of turpentine or naptha, &c., and should I find the
design, device, or pattern not sufficiently perfect, or in places not deep enough,
or generally imperfect and wanting retouching, I again lay the ground or
composition on the surface of the stone, as before described, and make such
alterations as may be required by graving or cutting the part or parts of the
ground requiring retouching by the means before mentioned; this being done,
I re-apply the acid, as before mentioned, and so on, until I feel satisfied, or
consider the design, device, or drawing to be perfect and ready to be printed
from. Impressions are then taken from such design, device, or drawing on
prepared pottery tissue paper by a similar press to that used in taking the
impressions for like purposes when copper-plates are used, and the impressions
so obtained are transferred to china, porcelain, earthenware, or other wares,
in like manner to that now practised when transferring designs on like
paper from the sunk engravings of copper and other plates, and as is well
understood by the manufacturers of china, porcelain, earthenware, and other
wares. The produce an engraving on a cylindrical stone surface, I use a
similar process in every respect as before described in regard to the pro-
ducing an engraving on a flat surface of stone, such process when applied to
cylindrical surfaces of stone forming no part of the present Invention, it being
claimed and correctly described in my former Specification, enrolled to a Patent
granted to me, and bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of June, One thousand
eight hundred and thirty-nine. If I wish to produce a sunk chalk or granu-
lated design, device, or pattern, I first take a lithographic or other stone of a
flat or cylindrical form, upon which I put a grain or granulated surface, and
then trace with a proper instrument the design, device, or pattern thereon,
unless I feel competent to draw the design, device, or pattern without the
assistance of a tracing, in which case I at once draw the design, device, or
pattern upon the stone with lithographic chalk, ink, or other material, as is well
understood. Instead, however, of adhering to the usual and generally accepted
method of producing light and shade in Drawings, &c. I reverse it and draw
in shadow where light would heretofore have been drawn in, and I draw in
light where shadow would be drawn in and when complete I take some soft
etching ground, or, as before stated, any suitable matter or composition re-
sisting the action of the acid to be used, and surround the design, device, or
pattern with it, and all such parts as are not occupied by the design, device,
or pattern, so as to protect the surface of the stone against the action of the

page_text: acid or acids, and when the etching ground or other matter or composition
is dry I apply the diluted acid as herein-before stated; I let it lie under
gum water for about a quarter of an hour, according to the judgment of the
printer, as is well understood, after which I then wash the entire surface of the
stone with spirits of turpentine or naptha, &c., so as to make the surface of the
stone perfectly clean, and roll it with a lithographic roller and common litho
graphic printing ink, or rub it with flannel and grease, to ascertain whether
after the action of the acid the fine tints in the design, device, or drawing
have been injured; or any other of the many known means may be used to
ascertain this fact. The design being in a perfect state, I take some soft
etching ground or other matters or compositions, as above explained, resisting
the action of acids, and a common lithographic roller, upon which I put
some of the above-mentioned soft etching ground, or other matter or com-
position, and roll it on the design, pattern, or device, in the same way as I
would on a common lithographic chalk drawing, taking care to charge it well,
so that all the fine work in the design, device, or pattern be well protected from
the next immersion in diluted acid. As soon as the etching ground or other
material or composition which may be used is dry I subject it again to the
action of the diluted acid, observing the same care as is herein-before recom-
mended this being done, I remove the etching ground or other material
or composition with spirits of turpentine or naptha, &c. to ascertain if
the design, device, or pattern is sunk low enough to contain a sufficient
quantity of ink or colour. Should it require more depth I recharge it as
above, and so on, until I have obtained the required depth. Having
obtained the proper depth, I take a point, graver, scraper, or other instrument
suited to the purpose, clear and make perfect or deeper wherever it may be
required in one or every part of the design, device, or pattern until the same
is made perfect, after which it is fit for printing.
It should be stated that I do not claim the mode of producing printing
surfaces in relief on stone rollers herein spoken of, the mode of performing the
same being the subject of a Patent, as above stated.
I would remark that the mode of obtaining surfaces in relief on flat
surfaces of stone is applicable to the printing on paper, calicoes, silk, woollens,
oilcloths, leather, and other fabrics, such flat surfaces of stone so engraved in
relief being used similarly to wood blocks for printing.
Another part of my Invention, so far as it relates to improvements in printing
china, porcelain, earthenware, and other like wares usually printed, consists in
employing impressions obtained from surfaces of biscuit with designs thereon
executed according to the means usually resorted to in preparing surfaces of

page_text: lithographic stones, and also according to the means of producing relief
surfaces thereon, as above described, in respect to lithographic stones, whether
flat or cylindrical; and for this purpose, supposing the surface desired is to be
flat, I take block of biscuit in the state known as printing body and I treat the
surface to be designed on in precisely the same manner as if I were working
on the surface of a lithographic stone, and I produce the desired design
thereon and obtain impressions therefrom in like manner to what has been
explained when using lithographic stones, and such is the case when transferring
such impressions on to china and other like wares usually printed.
I would remark, that although such surfaces may be obtained cheaper than
lithographic stones they are not so good for the purposes, but for common
wares may be used with great advantage; but I prefer lithographic stones
when printing the better classes of wares.
Another part of my Invention relates to an improved material for printing.
china, porcelain, earthenware, and other like wares usually printed, and con-
sists in the application of birdlime or vegetable gluten instead of the potters'
varnish or boiled linseed oil, &c.
In order to carry out this part of my Invention in the best manner,
the birdlime is to be applied similarly to the materials now used and also
what are directed to be used, as above explained; but when applying it
the surfaces do not require heat, and by mixing it with the color, and
with it about one-sixth part by weight of burnt borax ground to a fine
powder, decreasing the quantity of silex used with the color by a quantity
equal to the borax added, and the impressions transferred to the wares will at
once take the glaze, having previously dipped the article so printed into a
caustic alkaline ley, as is practised in some of the manufactories, to saponify
any small portion of grease, and I employ spirits of turpentine or naptha, &c.
to bring the birdlime or gluten to the consistency desired.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would wish it to be understood that I make no claim to
any of the known processes herein described or spoken of when separately
considered; but what I claim is,
First, the mode of printing china, porcelain, earthenware, and other like
wares (which are usually printed) by means of transferring impressions from
lithographic stones, as described.
Secondly, I claim the 'mode above described of printing china, porcelain,
earthenware, and other like wares, which are usually printed) by means of
transferring impressions from zincographic or other metal surfaces similarly
designed on.

page_text: Thirdly, I claim the mode of printing china, porcelain, earthenware, and
other like wares (which are usually printed) by applying impressions
obtained from sunk surfaces of stone, as above described.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of sinking flat surfaces of stone for the purposes
of printing paper, calicoes, silks, woollens, oilcloth, leather, and other fabrics as
above described.
Fifthly, I claim the mode of printing china, porcelain, earthenware, and
other like wares (usually printed) by the application of impressions taken from
biscuit surfaces, as above described.
Sixthly, I claim the application of birdlime or vegetable gluten in printing
china, porcelain, earthenware (or other like wares usually printed), as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Auguste Ducote, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-first day of May, in the
year of our Lord 1840, the aforesaid Pierre Auguste Ducote came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty.