A device repeatedly used in various publications, though the note hand written on the side of the block, in John Buckland Wright’s handwriting, determines this block was used for ‘Cockalorum’ (P. 112)

Electrotype printing plate measuring 3.2cm x 4.1cm overall. Zinc mounted on wooden boxwood block. Electrotyping was a method developed in 1838, a solution to producing extensive print runs from a vulnerable, or brittle, printing block or plate. The line of the image (in the case of a copper plate), or the mold of the image (in the case of a wood engraving) was coated in conductive graphite, and using electrolysis, a hard copper or zinc plate was grown that recorded the finest detail of the original. The strength allowed publishing houses to use the image for larger runs.

Provenance: The Golden Cockerel Press. The private collection of David Chambers.

Only zinc plate available. Printed image for reference only.