120 EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



Letter from Dr. G. Brotcn Goode, acTcnoicI edging the receipt of Mr. J. W. Oshorne^s col- 

 lection illustraiiitg the development of photo-mechanical printing. 



Smithsonian Institution, 



Office of Assistant Secretary, 



in charge of u. s. national museum, 



Washington, June 12, 1888. 

 Dear Sir: Your collection of proofs and specimens illustrating the development 

 of photo-inechauical printing has been received. The boxes and packages have been 

 placed iu the work-room of one of our preparators, where it awaitsTVIr. Koehler's re- 

 turn to Washington. 



We are very glad to have the active co-operation of one who has done original work 

 iu this direction. It is by such generous assistance that the National Museum has 

 been euabled to make such rapid strides during the past five or six years. I hope that 

 when your collection has been arranged you will be pleased with our methods of in- 

 stallation. Mr. Koehler has our fullest confidence in all matters of that kind. 



I have no doubt that you will hear from Mr. Koehler before he unpacks the boxes. 

 I have sent him a copy of your letter and have called his attention particularly to 

 what you say in regard to sending a portion of the collection to the Art Museum in 

 Boston. I doubt not, however, that you have already explained your wishes to him. 

 Assuring you of the hearty thanks of the Smithsonian Institution for your geuer- 

 ons and most acceptable contribution to the national collections, I am yours very 

 respectfully, 



G. Brown Goode, 



Assistant Secretary. 

 J. W. Osborne, Esq., 



212 Delatvare Avenue, Northeast, Washington. 



Letter from J. W. Osborne, calling attention to the foundation ivhieh has heen laid in the 



National Museum for a collection illustrating the processes employed in photo-mechanical 



printing. 



212 Delaware Avenue^; Northeast, 



Washington, B.C., Octoler 2b, l^SS. 



Dear Sir : Herewith I send you copies of two letters which will interest those of 

 your readers who have given their attention to photography and its applications to 

 mechanical printing processes. The first of these letters I may supplement at once 

 by saying that additional collections of mine have since its date been added to the 

 specimens I then sent to the National Museum. Besides photo^mechanical work these 

 include photography, especially early carbon printing, as well as many specimens by 

 processes iu which photography plays no part. 



My chief object in asking you to publish this correspondence (that course being the 

 shortest and most direct way of presenting the whole matter) is to bring to the notice 

 of experimenters, inventors, and collectors of graphic work, the important fact, that 

 a substantial foundation has been laid for an exhaustive collection of such productions 

 under Government auspices in Washington. 



In the National Museum the exhibit made by the section of graphic arts, as pre- 

 sented for public inspection and study, does not as yet include photo-mechanical 

 processes ; for there has not been time to eifect a satisfactory classification and expo- 

 sition of my collection. Thorough analysis of that sort is indispensable in such a case, 

 and it always gives rise to much laborious research and comparison of dates and 

 statements in the literary record. At present the section of graphic arts embraces 

 drawing in several styles ; etching on metal plates ; engraving of different kinds, for 

 the production of both intaglio and relief plates and blocks ; lithography in various 

 manners; color-printing; and finally, electrotyping and stereotyping, as applied to 

 graphic multiplication. Besides the printed results flowing from the practice of these 



