._.* i ‘ a z s =m 
: - 
162 ‘ Electrography. . 
surface, however delicate or intricate, with a thin metallic film, "s 
which will be found a good conductor. We have in this way - 
. obtained deposits on plaster, and even paper, and any one by ‘ 
availing himself of this fact may procure perfect fac-similes in 
~. copper of those beautiful reliefs of animals and plants, &e., on 
_ Bristol paper, by Dobbs of London. In doing this it is neces- 
sary to protect the back and sides of the plaster or paper by var- 
nish, to prevent its absorbing water, and thereb: injuring the 
sharpness of the copy. _ 
We have thought that with proper care in the. details, this 
mode might be with great advantage, applied to the production 
of copper busts and statues. For this purpose let a plaster mould 
be obtained, such as is used in the production of common plaster 
casts; let the individual parts of this mould be carefully treated, 
«in the manner just described, to render their surfaces conductors ; 
the mould may then be united, and all requisite care being taken 
to see that the joints are properly secured and closed, so as not 
to interrupt the conducting surfaces, let it be placed in a vessel 
of suitable form, and completely immersed in a solution of sul- 
phate of copper, and treated in a manner similar to any other ob- 
ject under such circumstances. We regret that it is not in our 
power to say that we have done this, we are not aware that 
any experiments on this point have been published.* If it cam 
be done successfully, its value to the arts will be very great; fur- 
nishing the artist at once with the means of perpetuating his 
fame by a literal monumentum @re perennius. 
This art has sprung up and grown to great perfection almost in 
a day ; and we hear from every quarter, accounts of its application 
to new and valuable purposes. ‘The art of printing seems likely 
to profit greatly by this new coadjutor. The type-founder 
now fill his moulds with copper and thus obtain plates which wi 
outlast their owners, while their superior hardness and durability 
will warrant the expenditure of much greater care and labor in 
finishing all their details.+ 
. a 
* A plaster bust may, after proper preparation, be inclosed in copper by this 
mode ; but the surface of the deposit, after attaining the thickness of stout papers 
manifests, according to our observations, a tendency to rise up in grains like shot, 
and after a little, the sharpness of the inclosed plaster is lost; we doubt therefore if 
this modification of the process can ever be pursued with meer hope of success. 
Mr. Spencer sent us with his pamphlet, a handsomely printed table in SV 
from type thus produced. 
