IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF BLOCKS OR SURFACES TO BE USED IN PRINTING."
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry George Collins, of Paternoster Row, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION
OF BLOCKS OR SURFACES TO BE USED IN PRINTING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry George Collins
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd October 1858.
I, HENRY GEORGE COLLINS, of Paternoster Row, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PRODUCTION OF BLOCKS OR SURFACES TO BE USED IN PRINTING," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the production of blooks
or surfaces to be used in printing. For these purposes, the drawing, device, or
matter is obtained on a block or surface to be used in printing from a drawing,
device, or matter on a lithographic stone or other surface, whether the same
has been produced thereon by hand or transferred, or otherwise, by subjecting
the drawing, device, or matter on the lithographic stone or other surface to a
series of processes similar to that in which a lithographic stone is inked when
about to be printed from in the ordinary manner, but the ink or composition
used is to be mixed with suitable dryers, so that each succeeding coating of the
composition may quickly dry or set before the next coating is applied; by
these means the lines and parts constituting the drawing, device, or matter on
the stone or other surface, which would be inked and printed from if used in
the ordinary manner, become more and more built up or raised, and when

page_text: such raising has been sufficiently accomplished a cast in wax or other
suitable material is taken, from which an electrotype is obtained, as is well
understood.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry George Collins in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd April 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
GEORGE COLLINS, of Paternoster Row, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry George Collins, Her special licence that I, the said Henry
George Collins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Henry George Collins, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF BLOCKS OR SURFACES TO BE USED IN
PRINTING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry George
Collins, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 Henry George Collins, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the production of blocks
or surfaces to be used in printing. For these purposes the drawing, device,
or matter is obtained on a block or surface to be used in printing from a
drawing, device, or matter on a lithographic stone or other surface, whether
the same has been produced thereon by hand, transferred, or otherwise, by

page_text: subjecting the drawing, device, or matter on the lithographic stone or other
surface to a series of processes similar to that in which a lithographic stone is
inked when about to be printed from in the ordinary manner, but the ink or
composition used is to be mixed with suitable driers, so that each succeeding
coating of the composition may quickly dry or set before the next coating is
applied; by these means the lines and parts constituting the drawing, device,
or matter on the stone or other surface which would be inked and printed from
if used in the ordinary manner, become more and more built up or raised, and
when such raising has been sufficiently accomplished a cast in wax or other
suitable material is taken from which an electrotype is obtained, as is well
understood.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed more fully
to describe the manner of performing the same.
The desired device is by preference to be produced on lithographic stone,
or on zinc by transfer, or otherwise, as if about to print therefrom in the
ordinary manner; but in place of so printing from the device on the stone or
other surface, I build up the device till it is sufficiently in relief for the purpose
of my Invention. In order to build up the device I apply successive coatings
of ink or varnish, one on the other, by means of an ordinary inking roller,
allowing each coating to set or dry befere the next coating is applied. The
varnish or ink which I prefer is engravers' black varnish or stopping out
varnish, with a small quantity of tallow, to make it work freely when using an
ordinary printing roller, but other preparations of ink or varnish may be used.
Having applied a number of coatings of the ink or varnish, so as to bring the
impression sufficiently in relief, I carefully examine every part, and if there be
any part or parts which are defective, I by hand rectify such part or parts, and
when dry I take a cast in wax or other suitable material, and from such cast
I obtain an electrotype surface, as is well understood.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry George Collins, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
FRANCIS J. FULLER.
H. G. COLLINS. (L.S.)