DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.73059#0023
Proofs, States, and Signatures.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Proofs, States, and Signatures.
t " Artist's proofs. These, in modern engravings, are the
A C_7@ earliest class of impressions, and considered the most
,& valuable. Prior to about the year 1850 they seldom bore descriptive lettering
under the design, except the name of the painter in the left hand corner, that of the
engraver in the right, and dated publication line or imprint in small letters at foot, and
this applies to proofs of prints by Bartolozzi and his school.* Since that time, however,
* Proof impressions (engravers' proofs) of Bartolozzi's prints are occasionally met with entirely unlettered.
a modification has been made by omitting all lettering under the design, the publisher's
imprint and date of publication alone appearing in small and unobtrusive letters at the top
of the print and close to the design.
2. Proofs before letters on " India " paper. These bear the names of the painter and
engraver in the left and right hand corners, and the publication line in the centre, all
close under the engraved work.
3. Proofs before letters on plain paper. Lettering same as No. 2.
4. Lettered Proofs on " India" paper. By a "lettered proof" is meant a proof bearing
the full lettering—that is, a description of the subject, including name of painter, engraver,
publisher, and date of publication. The lettering is sometimes scratched in a round hand
on the right lower corner of the plate, or it may be in ordinary open print letters in out-
line ; examples in the latter state are sometimes termed " open letter proofs."
5. Lettered proofs on plain paper.
6. Prints on " India" paper. Before these are printed, each letter forming the inscrip-
tion receives a line through the centre: the dedication line, if any, is also generally added.
7. Prints. This is the ordinary state of the plate, the same as No. 6, but printed on
plain paper.
Engravings that bear the mark of the Printsellers' Association are stamped as follows :
No. I in left hand lower corner; Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 in right hand lower corner; Nos. 6
and 7 are not stamped.
7 States.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Proofs, States, and Signatures.
t " Artist's proofs. These, in modern engravings, are the
A C_7@ earliest class of impressions, and considered the most
,& valuable. Prior to about the year 1850 they seldom bore descriptive lettering
under the design, except the name of the painter in the left hand corner, that of the
engraver in the right, and dated publication line or imprint in small letters at foot, and
this applies to proofs of prints by Bartolozzi and his school.* Since that time, however,
* Proof impressions (engravers' proofs) of Bartolozzi's prints are occasionally met with entirely unlettered.
a modification has been made by omitting all lettering under the design, the publisher's
imprint and date of publication alone appearing in small and unobtrusive letters at the top
of the print and close to the design.
2. Proofs before letters on " India " paper. These bear the names of the painter and
engraver in the left and right hand corners, and the publication line in the centre, all
close under the engraved work.
3. Proofs before letters on plain paper. Lettering same as No. 2.
4. Lettered Proofs on " India" paper. By a "lettered proof" is meant a proof bearing
the full lettering—that is, a description of the subject, including name of painter, engraver,
publisher, and date of publication. The lettering is sometimes scratched in a round hand
on the right lower corner of the plate, or it may be in ordinary open print letters in out-
line ; examples in the latter state are sometimes termed " open letter proofs."
5. Lettered proofs on plain paper.
6. Prints on " India" paper. Before these are printed, each letter forming the inscrip-
tion receives a line through the centre: the dedication line, if any, is also generally added.
7. Prints. This is the ordinary state of the plate, the same as No. 6, but printed on
plain paper.
Engravings that bear the mark of the Printsellers' Association are stamped as follows :
No. I in left hand lower corner; Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 in right hand lower corner; Nos. 6
and 7 are not stamped.
7 States.