Special Collection

The library has a collection of special books that you can request to look at for reference. Here are a few books I have found (so far) that printmakers might like to see.
This sixth edition of Thomas Bewick's "Quadrupeds" was printed in 1811, from Bewick's original wood engraved blocks, set in pages with letterpress text. The library reference for this book is: 599 BEW.

Looking at original prints will give you a much better understanding of how the print was made, the layout of the book, the paper stock, the binding, etc. And you can look at the original in detail, although you may need to take a magnifying glass for Bewick's woodcuts, which are small and intricate. Look for Bewick's "tale-pieces", to be found at the end of his publications. A collection of these prints can be found in the following book:
"Thomas Bewick: tale-pieces" by Jonathan Watkins. 761.2 (BEW)

Other books we have been looking at recently are the 3 volumes by P.H. Emerson with original photo-gravure prints, the earliest way of reproducing photographs for publication, patented by Fox Talbot in 1852. See the blog entry of 29 October 2010 for more details.