Milestones in Colour Printing 1457-1859: With a Bibliography of Nelson Prints

Description

In this book, derived from his 1994 Sandars lectures, Bamber Gascoigne concentrates on those areas in the history of colour printing that have yet to receive critical attention. This broad historical survey covers the intaglio colour printing of the seventeenth and eighteenth century, the inventive attempts of nineteenth-century British publishers to achieve cheap, effective colour printing, and the pioneering work of the firm Thomas Nelson and Sons. A catalogue of more than 1,000 British and foreign views published by the firm in their own distinctive technique, the Nelson print, is also provided. Gascoigne links these developments to the wider scientific, cultural, and social currents during the period. This lavishly illustrated book presents with clarity and wit an extensive overview of the emergence of colour printing. It will be of interest to all students of publishing and printing history and bibliography, as well as art historians.

"For the reader interested in a history of nineteenth-century color printing in Britain, Gascoigne's book provides a detailed and knowledgeable exposition of that history." The Eighteenth Century, A Current Bibliography (ECCB) "More than 20 color plates displaying the astonishing artistry of color printers before the emergence of photographic halftones." J. Bidwell, Choice "In Milestones in Colour Printing, Gascoigne provides an overview of the achievements of previous generations of color printers who helped to make it viable." Marie Korey, Bibliographical Society of America "Readers...will be particulary interested in the topic of color printing as a technology applied to the production of scientific images." Henry Lowood, Isis "This book is a necessary addition to any collection on the history of printing and publishing." John Feather, Publishing Research Quarterly