ART OF PRINTING FROM STONE. gOQ 



methods are employed ; but that termed in relief is most 

 frequently used. This is the general mode of printing 

 music. 



'the second method is the sunk. This is preferred for 

 prints. 



The third method is the flat, or neither raised nor sunk. 

 This is useful for imitating drawings, particularly where the 

 impression is intended to resemble crayons. 



For printing or engraving in this method a block of mar- The stone 

 ble is employed, or any other calcareous stone, that is easily 

 corroded, and will take a good polish* It should be two 

 inches or two inches and half thick, and of a size propor- 

 tioned to the purpose for which it is intended. A close tex- 

 ture is considered as advantageous* 



AVhen the stone is well polished and dry, the first step is Proces* do- 

 to trace the drawing, notes, or letters, to be printed, with a scribe< *» 

 pencil. The design is not very conspicuous, but it is ren- 

 dered so by passing over the strokes of the pencil a parti- 

 cular ink, of which a great secret is made. This ink is made 

 of a solution of lac in potash, which is coloured with the 

 soot from burning wax. This appears to be the most 

 suitable black for the purpose. When the design has been ' 

 gone over with this ink, it is left to dry, which commonly 

 takes about two hours; but this depends much on the tem- 

 perature and dryness of the air. 



After the ink is dry, nitric acid, more or less diluted ac- 

 cording to the degree of relief desired, is poured on the 

 stone ; and corrodes every part of it, except where defended 

 by the resinous ink. 



The block being washed with water, an ink similar to that Mode of 

 Commonly used for printing is distributed over it by means P"ht' n 8« 

 of printers balls, a sheet of paper disposed on a frame is 

 laid on it, and this is pressed down by means of a copper 

 roller, or copper press. The beauty of the impression will 

 necessarily depend on that of the design. These copper 

 presses are very ingeniously constructed in Germany, and 

 easily worked. Their weight is proportional to the method 

 of printing used* 



When the desired number of impressions is taken off, and The?tonemay 



the wo k s ;,< t i ended to be usedany more, the stone is be , uscd * 



J - ' other works. 



Vol. XXVI.— July, 1810. P polished 



