19th Century Photogravure process

[Thom Bennett]

Does anyone have knowledge about exactly how a photogravure would have been made in the late 1800's?

The antique store I work in has acquired a Photogravure of Queen Victoria from 1897 and I am charged with the task of finding out exactly how it was made. The size of the image is 11x14 so I am assuming the original photograph was the same size. My primary question is how did one go from an orginal photograph to the copper plate? Was it possible to enlarge at that time? I recently attended a polymer photogravure demonstration so I have a basic knowledge about the process but am wondering how it was done in the late 1800's. Also, how many would have been made at that time? This one is not numbered.

Thanks in advance.

[tgtaylor]

A detailed and working description of the process is given in The Keepers of Light by William Crawford. The book is out of print but used copies can be found on amazon and you may be able to find it also at a public or university library.

Thomas

[MDR]

Thome here's a link to a book from 1895 about photogravure making
http://www.archive.org/details/photogravure00blaniala
and here a link to the Internet archives search results under the term photogravure
http://www.archive.org/search.php?qu...iatype%3Atexts

good luck

Dominik

[Thom Bennett]

Thomas, thanks for the reminder; I have that book!

MDR, wonderful links. Thank you.