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In
order to transfer the original watercolor images onto copper
printing plates (an intermediate step in the reproduction
process) Audubon
needed the services of an engraver who with precision tools
and chemicals could masterfully etch a reverse image of
his drawings onto smooth copper plates. William Lizars, of
England, engraved the first ten images supplied by Audubon,
but his colorists soon went on strike. It was then Robert
Havell who would complete the greater part of the work.
§Some
plates were as large as 27 1/2 x 39 1/2 inches,
and others being of a lesser size for the smaller
images. Once engraved, the plates were black-inked, and
then dampened paper (all paper being double elephant
size, 27 1/2 x 39 1/2 inches, untrimmed) was placed upon
them, and then both were run through rollers of a press.
The paper was then pulled, or peeled off the plate. What
resulted was a now properly oriented black and
white image, no longer reversed.
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