[SCA-AS] Handbook of Wood Engraving

[rmhowe]

Recently bought the following off of eBay. As they are very old
and probably scarce you might have to interlibrary loan one.
But for making blockprints this one probably comes as close to
the medieval methods as any I have ever seen. Dover has/had a
pair of books on the history of engraving.  They do sell
the Medieval Life Illustrations book that is mostly block prints
from Nuremburg.

Emerson, William: Handbook of Wood Engraving; [1881] 1884 edition
Hardcover, 4.25 X 6 inches in size, 96 pages.  Great illustrations!
Begins with the early medieval forms, covers up to the 19th C
printing blocks used for newspapers, books and advertising.
Some of the engravings are so amazing they look very much like
copper plate engraving. I would have mistaken them as such if
the author hadn't shown them in the book. It is highly detailed
with lessons on shading by lining, etc.

Shows all tools, their sharpening profiles, the setup with an eye
loupe on stand and raised platform for people doing this to use.
The tools are by and large specially sharpened gravers as you
would use for metals, only with a much sharper profile and some
small similarly handled wood chisels. As this was written in an
age without electric light the methods for focusing more light
from lamps are shown.

Begins with a boxwood log and shows the process of making the
blocks from it. Shows how to piece up larger boxwood blocks by
doweling or bolting them together in the 19th C method
[possibly earlier]. There is a page with a number of differently
colored blocks made up to multiply print a pattern.

For it's size a very inclusive little book.   Better than most
of the later 'Art' type block printing books by far.  The details
of the earlier block print makers are far more detailed than
any of the twentieth century books on wood block or linoleum
block printing I have seen.

Stefan, I would add this to the previous bibliography I think
you have in the Florilegium.org I wrote on wooden block printing.
It is well worth looking up.

Magnus, OL / R.M. Howe
Great Barony of Windmasters' Hill, the Manx, Great Dark Horde