Perpetuating Engravings on Steel or oilier Metals, 1411 
world, than any other ; and among these, that which is the 
subject of the present paper, may justly claim the admiration ^ 
not only of every lover of the fine arts, but that of every friend 
to improvement. Whether the subject be considered as it re- 
spects the advantages that will result from its application to our 
manufacturing interest, or with the eye of a philanthropist or 
statesman, it must be viewed as a most important discovery, 
which, if carried into effect, cannot fail to put an entire stop to 
the crime of forgery. 
The merit of this invention consists in obtaining, with great 
facility, from one engraving, any required number of plates, all 
of which are equal to the original^ and by which millions of im- 
pressions may be produced ; while, by the common process, one 
engraving produces only a few^ thousands. The process of mul- 
tiplying engravings, etchings, or engine-w^ork, is as follows. Steel 
blocks or plates, of sufficient size to receive the intended engra- 
ving, have their surfaces softened or decarbonated, and thereby 
rendered a better material for receiving all kinds of work than 
even copper itself. After the intended engraving has been exe- 
cuted upon the block, it is then hardened with great care by a 
new process, which prevents injury to the most delicate work. 
A cylinder of steel, previously softened, is then placed in the 
transferring press, and repeatedly passed over the engraved 
block, by which the engraving is transferred in relief to the pe- 
riphery of the cylinder ; the press having a vibrating motion 
equalling that of the cylinder upon its periphery, by which new 
surfaces of the cylinder are presented, equal to the extent of the 
engraving. This cylinder is then hardened, and is employed to 
indent copper or steel plates, with engravings identically the same 
with that upon the original block; and this may be repeated ad 
infinitum,, as the original engraving will remain, from which other 
cylinders may be impressed, if required. This invention pro- 
mises to be of great advantage to some of our manufactures, 
particularly that of pottery, which may now be embellished with 
beautiful engravings, so as to place the successful competition 
of other nations at a great distance. It may also be applied 
with great advantage to calico-printing, by producing entire 
new patterns upon the cylinders from which they are print- 
ed,. — an object of great importance to our manufacturing inte- 
3 
