Shakespeare's King Henry VI: 1874 Genuine Boydell Woodburytype Mortimer; Richard

Description: 1874 Genuine Woodburytype PrintKing Henry VI (Part I) Act II Scene 5 Satisfaction GuaranteedThis is an authentic 1874 print--NOT a recent reproduction This is a well-preserved, high-quality, 1874 Woodburytype print of an engraving by Robert Thew (1758–1802), after a painting by James Northcote, R. A. (1746-1831). This fine illustration was produced exclusively to accompany The Boydell Gallery, A Collection Of Engravings Illustrating The Dramatic Works Of Shakespeare, published by Blickers and Son, London; 1874. The image depicted, from William Shakespeare's King Henry the Sixth (Part I), takes place during Act II Scene 5 in a Room in the Tower. Pictured are characters Mortimer (in a chair), Jailor, and Richard Plantagenet. This illustration is printed on a medium-weight paper, trimmed to include just the printed portion, which measures 6.75" by 4 5/8." This trimmed print is permanently affixed to a larger carrying sheet of heavy-weight paper, blank on the reverse, measuring a generous 12 7/8" by 9.75", allowing for convenient matting and framing. The flush trimming and attachment to a carrying sheet represents the typical presentation of Woodburytype prints, due to the smearing of excess gelatin ink that would occur at the margins of the image from the pressure of the paper against the plate.The texture and depth of pigment in this print is impressive. It is a detailed, emotive illustration, and would look attractive matted and framed in an antique or contemporary setting.Each print in this series was attached by hand to its carrying sheet, so it may not be exactly centered, but is very close. Around the trimmed print there is a rectangular "frame" of around 3/4" - 1" of contrasting off-white color, which gives the whole page the appearance of being double matted around the image (a sample photograph from one print is included below for reference).Likewise, each print was also accompanied by a page of descriptive text, with information germane to the artwork, as well as to the representative work of Shakespeare it illustrates. This printed page of text will be included with the Woodburytype print. The specific page of text that will accompany this print is also pictured below.Upon purchase, a Certificate of Authenticity will be prepared and included, as well as a peel-off, laser-printed facsimile of the copyright information as it appears in the collection from which this color print was removed. Purchasers who frame their prints frequently affix the copyright statement to the back of the frame.BACKGROUNDThe Boydell Shakespeare Gallery was the expansive literary and artistic project of John Boydell (1720-1804), and his nephew, Josiah Boydell (1752-1817). Commenced in 1787, it was intended to make accessible to its subscribers an edition of Shakespeare's works illustrated by the finest artists of England. It was further the intent of the Boydells to make a gift of the original works of art to the People of England. The French Revolution and Napoleonic wars complicated the circumstances of the elder Boydell, and the project was considerably delayed in its completion. In 1805, the first publication of the Shakespeare Gallery took place. The works were reprinted from time to time during the 19th century, and the prints in this store came from one of the finest examples of these reprints. These are beautifully printed Woodburytypes, hand-attached to their carrying pages.The Woodburytype Process was developed in 1866 by Walter Woodbury. It was fairly uncommon even in its short period of use (1866 to about 1900). The process was photomechanical, screenless, and like other collotype printing processes, the Woodburytype relied on the photosensitive properties of dichromated gelatin. The results rivaled even the best silver-based printing processes, and to this day, this unique process remains the only fully continuous-tone photomechanical technique to ever realize fully practical function. The quality of the illustrations produced by this method is quite remarkable, with no visible grain, even under higher magnifcation.To the naked eye, Woodburytype prints appear to be perfect, continuous-tone images. Under magnification, the identifying characteristics of a genuine Woodburytype include the presence of: 1) both larger pigment clusters and randomly-distributed microparticles of pigment; and 2) small white spots indicating where air bubbles formed during their development. Please refer to the accompanying closeup photograph showing the surface of one print from this series under magnification, to see these characteristics displayed. Below: The scanned image below is cropped closely around the printed portion, and does not include the full carrying sheet (which is actually mostly white), or the plate number ("59"), which is imprinted into the margin of the carrying sheet near the lower-right corner. Above: A magnified, closeup photo to show the detail and print quality (this image is an example only; it may be from this or another illustration from this collection). Note the rich contrast between black and white portions, with plenty of smooth midtones between; the characteristic pigment clusters; and the white spots caused by air bubbles formed during development of the print. These features are reliable indicators of a genuine Woodburytype print process.Below: A closeup photograph showing the lower-right corner of one print and its carrying sheet (this image is an example only; it may be from this or another illustration from this collection). The margins surrounding the attached print are very deep. Note the contrasting off-white area of the carrying sheet that "frames" the permanetly-attached print. As issued, each print was hand-attached to its carrying sheet, and while it is roughly centered, none are quite exactly straight. Above: Note the very faint stamped impression of the plate number that appears in the lower-right corner (in this case, the sample photo shows plate number 45). This very small stamped number makes a palpable, physical impression into the paper surface, but it is not inked, and is very inconspicuous. Above: The page of descriptive text identifying the artwork and artists, as well as the scene illustrated. This page, like the carrying sheet with the artwork, also measures 12 7/8" by 9.75". This descriptive page will also be included with the Woodburytype print you receive.Below: A reduced-size scan of the Title Page of the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery volume for which this print was exclusively produced. This title page is not included with the print and descriptive text page. This scan is provided for reference, and for purposes of original authenticity verification only. Condition: Very Good: As shown, with no tears or marks. Print will be carefully packaged to preserve condition during shipping.Please note: Due to the physical properties of the antique gelatin ink, as well as the clear protective varnish applied at time of printing, this print cannot be rolled into a mailing tube. It will be shipped in a large envelope between sheets of stabilizing material. Ships next business day.This is a genuine 1874 engraving--NOT a recent reproduction. It is roughly 150 years old; please handle with care.Satisfaction Guaranteed or RETURN for any reason for a prompt refund.Comes from a smoke-free home. Powered by SixBit's eCommerce Solution

Price: 25.8 USD

Location: Iowa City, Iowa

End Time: 2024-12-25T17:32:07.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD