[DCRM-L] cracks in engraved plates

[Fell, Todd]

I'm not sure where I stand on the creation of a specific genre term for cracks or imperfections as mentioned below, but I do think it is important such cracks/imperfections be mentioned in notes. As John and Andrea have pointed out in their emails, these cracks/imperfections can aid in the identification of particular printings. This is especially true in map production, where copper plates in particular were reused over and over again, quite often by multiple publishers/printers.

Todd Fell

From: dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu [mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu] On Behalf Of John Lancaster
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 5:47 PM
To: DCRM Revision Group List
Subject: Re: [DCRM-L] cracks in engraved plates

There are terms for damaged types and type ornaments; there should be a similar term for stereotype plates as well as intaglio plates (and perhaps lithographic plates as well).  Perhaps there is already such a term for damaged woodcuts/wood-engravings; if not, that's another particular desideratum, as progressive damage has not infrequently been used to provide at least relative dating of early books.

John Lancaster


On Nov 29, 2011, at 5:15 PM, Cawelti, Andrea wrote:


Greetings, I wonder if any of you use any kind of genre terms (or other terms) for obvious cracks in the printing of engraved plates?  I'd never made note of cracks before, but a recent project has made me aware of the usefulness in following the progress of these cracks through an edition, particularly in music.
Thoughts?  Suggestions?
Grateful thanks, Andrea
--
Andrea Cawelti
Ward Cataloger
Houghton Library
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA  02138

Phone: (617) 495-8060
FAX: (617) 495-1376
E-mail: cawelti at fas.harvard.edu<mailto:cawelti at fas.harvard.edu>


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