IMPROVEMENTS IN ANASTATIC PRINTING, AND IN PRODUCING COPIES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Rudolph Appel, of 43, Gerard Street,
Soho, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ANASTATIC PRINTING, AND IN PRODUCING COPIES
Sealed the 19th February 1853, and dated the 14th December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Rudolph Appel at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th December 1852.
I, RUDOLPH APPEL, of 43, Gerard Street, Soho, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ANASTATIC PRINTING, AND IN PRODUCING COPIES OF
DRAWINGS, WRITINGS, AND PRINTED IMPRESSIONS," to be as follows:-
My improvements enable me to produce copies of all kinds of
prints, whether lithographic, letter press, or copper plate. I can
also produce copies of drawings, or writings done with a brush, or
pen, in certain kinds of ink, so as to preserve the finest tints as well
as the darkest shades of the original.

page_text: My improvements in anastatic printing, and in producing copies
of drawings, writings, and printed impressions, consist―
First, in treating the polished surface of the metallic plates
employed for transfer with acid, in such manner as to obtain a
surface better adapted for the process.
Second, in treating the prints, &c. sought to be transferred, with
an acid, in such a manner as to preserve the finest lines (which
heretofore have often been injured or obliterated); which result is
obtained by controlling the quantity of acid applied.
Third, in applying to the metallic plate, after removal from the
transfer press, organic acids, by which an effect is produced on the
surface of the plate which enables me to charge the finest, as
well as the darkest shades (to this improvement I give the name of
Appelotype).
Fourth, where drawings with graduated tints are made pur-
posely for being transferred by the Appelotype process, it is desirable
to use paper prepared with a strong solution of gelatine, and a weak
solution of animal gall.
Fifth, in subjecting the prints, &c. (where the ink is so dry that
a set off or transfer cannot be obtained in the ordinary manner)
to the action of a solution of alkaline earths, so as to render the
ink capable of being transferred as easily as if it were recently
printed.
Sixth, in adding to the ink of a written, drawn, or printed
surface, which has hitherto not been transferable, matter which
can be transferred to the plate; and will then, as it is technically
called, "charge up."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Rudolph Appel in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
RUDOLPH APPEL, of 43, Gerard Street, Soho, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two,
in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Rudolph Appel, Her
special licence that I, the said Rudolph Appel, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Rudolph
Appel, 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 terin 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 ANASTATIC PRINTING, AND IN PRO-
DUCING COPIES OF DRAWINGS, WRITINGS, AND PRINTED IMPRESSIONS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Rudolph Appel,
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 saine 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 Rudolph Appel, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
My Improvements enable me to produce copies of all kinds of
prints, whether lithographic, letter press, or copper plate. I can
also produce copies of drawings or writings done with a brush or

page_text: pen, in certain kinds of ink, so as to preserve the finest tints as
well as the darkest shades of the originals.
My improvements in anastatic printing, and in producing copies
of drawings, writings, and printed impressions, consist, first, in
treating the polished surface of the metallic plates employed for
transfer with acid, in such inanner as to obtain a surface better
adapted for the process. For this purpose, I take a plate of zinc,
or other metal, polished in the usual way, by first rubbing it with
wet emery, then drying by a rag, then rubbing with fine emery
paper, and, finally, thoroughly cleansing by paper. When the
work to be transferred contains graduated tints, or extremely fine
lines, I expose the plate to the action of the vapour of hydrochloric
acid, by holding it over a vessel containing this acid, care being
taken to insure uniform action upon the plate by moving it about.
Or, I place upon the polished plate, paper having a smooth surface,
and which has been previously soaked in dilute hydrochloric acid
(made by mixing one part of the acid to five or six parts of water)
and then nearly dried. The time which the plate must be sub-
jected to the action of the acid, is regulated by the degree of fineness
of the work to be transferred; it being understood, the finer the
work the less the time of exposure. Or, when the work to be
transferred does not contain graduated tints, or very fine lines, then
the plate may be prepared either by pouring dilute hydrochloric
acid over it, washing away the excess of acid by means of water,
brushing the surface with a brush, so as to remove any loose par-
ticles; finally, washing with water, and rapidly drying by dabbing
with a towel, and then holding it over a charcoal fire or other suitable
source of heat. Or paper soaked in dilute hydrochloric or nitric
acid (one part acid to five or six of water,) and from which all
superfluous acid has been removed by bibulous paper) may be placed
upon the polished zinc or other metallic plate, over that a sheet of
bibulous paper and a felt, the whole passed between rollers with
gentle pressure; upon the removal of the acid paper, the plate is fit
for use.
It must be distinctly understood that, for the purpose of procuring

page_text: that condition of surface which is possessed by the metallic plate
after being subjected to either of the four preceding processes, I do
not confine myself to the use of hydrochloric acid, although I prefer
it; inasmuch as nitric, sulphuric acid, and even other acids, may be
substituted.
The second part of my Invention consists in treating prints, &c.
sought to be transferred, with an acid, in such a manner as to preserve
the finest lines, which heretofore have often been injured or oblite-
rated; which result is obtained by controlling the quantity of acid
applied. And, in order to do so, I proceed as follows:-I place the
engraving, or drawing, or other work to be transferred, upon a clean
sheet of paper, the printed side downwards; upon the back I place
a piece of blotting paper, of equal size, previously moistened with
dilute nitric acid (one part acid to five or six of water). This must
be renewed, if necessary; the object being to have the work to be
transferred uniformly damp from the dilute acid. The engraving
or other work must at once be placed upon the zinc or other
metallic plate, prepared by one of the preceding processes; it being
understood that, if there are extremely fine lines or graduated tints,
one of the first two must be employed. Over the engraving a slicet
of paper, and then a felt, must be placed, and the whole passed
through a roller press with considerable pressure.
The third part of my Invention consists in applying to the mc-
tallic plate, after removal from the transfer press, organic acids, by
which an effect is produced on the surface of the plate, which
enables me to charge the finest as well as the darkest shades (to
this improvement I give the name of Appelotype). Where drawings
with graduated tints are made purposely for being transferred by
this process, it is desirable to use paper prepared with a strong
solution of gelatine and a weak solution of animal gall; and when
copies of drawings or writings are desired to be made, they should
have been executed originally in lithographic or similar ink.
the purpose of producing the effect above described, on removing
the engraving or other work from the plate, after passing through
the press, as above described, I proceed as follows: - I pour
For

page_text: over the plate a decoction of oak bark (the strength which I
prefer is obtained by boiling three pints of water with a pound
of oak bark in an earthenware vessel down to a pint), and I
allow this to dry upon the plate. I now wash the plate with
water, and then rub gum and water over it. I then rub, by means
of a flannel, sweet oil containing a little turpentine (thirty drops to
an ounce of oil), until all ink appears to be removed from the plate,
and wipe it with a wet soft cloth. I then apply, by means of
another cloth, water containing a little gum; and, lastly, thin litho
graphic ink by means of a soft lithographic roller. The plate is
now ready for charging; and printing from which is done as in
lithographic printing. It is, however, advisable to have a little
gum, and some decoction of oak bark, in the proportion of an ounce
and a half to a quart of the water used for moistening the plate.
Instead of oak bark, nut galls may be used; and while I prefer a
decoction made from one or other of those substances, I do not
confine myself to them alone, as chemists have been long familiar
with vegetable productions having a like chemical constitution,
which would allow of their being substituted for the oak bark or
gall nuts.
The fourth part of my Invention consists in subjecting the
prints, &c. (where the ink is so dry that a set off or transfer cannot
be obtained in the ordinary manner), to the action of a solution of
alkaline earths or certain salts, so as to render the ink capable of
being transferred as casily as if it were recently printed.
The method which I prefer, is to place the engraving or other
work to be transferred, into a hot solution of strontia (half an
ounce of strontia to a pint of water) for a time, which varies from a
few minutes to an hour; taking it out, however, from time to time,
to ascertain when a slight set off can be obtained. As soon as this
occurs, it must be removed from the solution of strontia, pressed
between sheets of bibulous paper, and put into a dish containing
dilute nitric acid (one to seven of water) until the strontia in the
paper is dissolved. It must then be removed from the acid, and all
superfluous liquid taken up by pressure between sheets of bibulous

page_text: paper. The engraving or other work is now to be put upon the
plate, and transferred in the usual way. While I give the preference
to strontia, I do not confine myself to it alone; as other alkaline
earths may be used with advantage, as well as certain salts of the
alkalies, which have an alkaline reaction.
The fifth part of my Invention consists in adding to the ink of a
written, drawn, or printed surface, which has hitherto not been
transferable matter; which can be transferred to the plate, and will
then, as it is technically called, "charge up."
For this purpose I proceed as follows:-I place the printed or
written surface of the document sought to be transferred on a
sheet of clean paper, and place upon the back of it paper damped
with water, so as to moisten the original document throughout its
whole texture. When this is done, I place it, face downwards, on
waxed or greased paper; and, after covering it with clean paper,
subject the whole to hot pressure. The wax or grease will thus
be drawn up to, and combine with, the ink; but will not adhere to
the paper. The writing or drawing can then be transferred in the
usual way.
Be it however distinctly understood, that although I have pro-
fessed to be able to produce copies of all kinds of prints, whether
lithographic, letter press, or copper plate, I expressly except any
print or impression whatsoever which is printed on a certain paper
patented by Messrs. Glynn and Appel, as from it it is impossible to
obtain a transfer.
What I claim is, -
-
First, the preparation of the plate, by subjecting it to the fumes
of acid, or otherwise, as above described.
Second, the application of the acid to the original, by means of
paper, or other absorbing material damped therewith, as above
described.
Third, the application to the surface of the plate (immediately
after the original has been transferred to it) of a solution of sub-
stances containing tannic or gallic acid, or a solution of those acids
themselves, as above described.

page_text: Fourth, the softening of the ink for the purposes of transfer, in
the manner above described.
Fifth, the impregnation of ink, hitherto not transferable, with
wax or grease, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Rudolph Appel, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three.
RUDOLPH APPEL. (L.S.)
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.