Morison Project Part 1
20 Morison
plates
This is a project I've been working on with the Bodleian Library, Oxford & The Plant Sciences Library Oxford with assistance from Oxford University Press and its Archivist.
Method
To clean 20 engraved
copper plates associated with Morisons Herbaria publication dating from the
1680’s.
then go to the Blog
titled ‘Treasures from the Herbaria: Morison’s Historia Plantarum Universalis
Oxoniensis
also of interest
Each engraved copper
plate is slightly smaller than A3, the plates are not heavy (approx. 500g) but
are delicate and need to be handled appropriately. The work entailed assessing
each plate for any damage and then cleaning the surface of the plate with a
very mild solution in 3 grades (fine, medium and coarse) The solution is a mix
of .5 part household ammonia (8% dilution) 2 parts whiting (very fine chalk) and
2 parts water. The solution was applied to a soft cloth which is worked across
the plate surface always in a circular motion. This was repeated until the plate
surface was clear and as much surface corrosion was removed as possible without
damaging the plate, once clean the plate was wrapped in an acid free material
and stored. The work was low risk.
Jim Nottingham is an
experienced printmaker with over 35 years-experience working within the various
disciplines of printmaking. Jim Nottingham has been carrying out a similar
restoration and printing project with Oxford University Press since 1995 (but
not on Oxford University premises)
Package
1
Plates
8. 1680 Pumpkins (‘Scandentes Pomiferae’) condition
poor, surface corrosion, plate cracked on top left about 30mm left corner,
repair was carried out at time of printing (1680’s) appears to have not been
effective plate surface is uneven, plate has been cut poorly 240mm top, 238 mm
bottom, although appears to be greater than that. Plate is 1mm thick although
as normal for the times not consistent. Lines look black, will try small
cleaning area first using dab of white spirit then polish mix. White spirit did
not clean the area, tried meth’s, no change to small area. Polish compound
appears to be work well within the small area. Took about 45 mins but cleaning
of surface not easy and required a good deal of care, heavy surface corrosion,
needed to attend carefully to cracked area. This plate should not be printed
because of the crack. Engraver of the plate is M Burghers.
31. 1680 Sensitive plants (‘Legumina’) poor
surface, quite dark from oxidisation, can clearly see printed text from newspaper
wrapping. This plate appears to be cut more evenly in terms of size, plate is
about 1mm thick and not that uneven, no cracks but on back of plate some areas
raised for printing. Line work appears to be clear. To note that text that has
transferred appear lighter on the plate, so in effect has etched the plate
surface. Text removed quite easily, plate in good condition some areas still a
little unclear but don’t think it should be cleaned any further for the time
being. Slightly darker areas may print at that point may clean again. Plate
engraved by M Burghers plate
34. 1680 Cabbages (‘Siliquosae Tetrapetalae
Bicapsulares’) The plate surface looks like it’s been splashed with some form
of chemical or had something spilled across it and wiped up leaving residue. The
plate is approx. 1mm thick, no cracks. Line work appears to be clear, plate not
marked by engravers name. The splashed type areas cleaned up easily although
some spots were difficult to remove, the plate after cleaning looked in good
condition with no obvious areas that would affect printing. An engravers name
is not present on the plate but after cleaning I don’t think it’s M Burghers.
74. 1680 Tulips (‘Tricapsulares
Hexapetalae’) dark plate surface corrosion, can see newsprint on plate a couple
of chemical splashes of some sort, plate different size by 5mm, plate 1mm thick
not engraved by Burghers but can’t quite make out who it was …Sonmas?...&
Danhoae??...style of engraving quite different, no apparent damage such as
cracks etc. although bottom right hand corner bent probably as a result of
dropping on its corner. Fairly easy to clean, some cuts around edges suggest
some rough handling at some time but otherwise good condition.
75. 1680 Fritillaries (‘Tricapsulares
Hexapetalae’) dark plate surface looks fairly uniform in patina, plate uniform
size and about 1mm thick, engravers looks like W Faithorne?. Easy to clean, no surprises,
some small surface damages, spots of something that’s etched into the surface
which could not be removed and will when printed show.
Package
2
Plates
131. 1680 Sunflowers (‘Plantae Corybmiferae
Sen Corymbosae’) plate surface not too bad, plate size uniform, plate thickness
1mm, some marks on centre of plate that look like scrapping, engraver F H Van
Hove. Fairly easy to clean, some areas of odd oxidisation something quite
abrasive must has been in contact with the plate at some time, but it was
removed fairly easily, scrapped area in centre of plate still present and may
be a problem when printing.
152. 1680 Oxford Ragwort (‘Plantae
Pappescentes Lacrescentes’) plates surface poor, no obvious chemical splashes
or damage, no engraver marked on plate but looks like Burghers. Plate size
uniform and about 1mm thick. Fairly easy to clean, some areas of engraved text
had been punched up from the cask of the plate and quite a deep scratch at
lower/centre area, which will show if printed.
177. 1680. Pineapples & Cactuses (‘Plantae
Spinosae Cardus Affines’) plate surface poor what looks like water may have
been on surface then pulled away from lines, odd patterning across plate,
engraver name marked F H Van Hove, fairly easy plate to clean, no issue areas.
178. 1680 Wheat (‘Plantae Culmifera Spicate
Cerealia Dictae Granis Laevibus’) plate surface reasonably clear except for
some light oxidisation, plate has an upwards bend, probably the result of being
in a stack of plates, plate size looks to be regular and plate thickness 1mm,
engraver is Burghers. On cleaning tiny ‘dit’ of some sort, in upper left
perhaps a repair, small in size probably would not affect any printing.
190. 1680 Maize (‘Plantae Culmiferae
Heteroclitae Variae’) plate surface poor, visible letter etc. form newspapers
on plate uneven corrosion on plate suggests different exposures, bottom right
of plate distinct dark area. Engraver is Burghers. Plate size even, plate
thickness about 1mm. Plate easy to clean, a few small stubborn areas, lovely
plate in terms of the engraving.
Package
3
Plates
191. 1680 Gingers (‘Plantae Cjjlmiferae
Radicibus Tuberosis’) plate surface poor, various oxidisation and marks dark
around right hand edges, plate has a slight curve size of plate uniform and
about 1mm thick engraver Burghers. Not easy to clean, some of the plate surface
quite dark and a little stubborn.
208. Carrots 1680 (‘Umbellae’) plate
condition poor, can clearly see newspaper text on surface of the plate dark area
to lower right hand side of plate, plate not evenly sized plate about 1mm
thick, engraver is Burghers some areas of text punched up from underside of
plate. Easy to clean some deep areas of tarnish but generally Ok. Top left hand
corner of plate has been dropped at some point bent damage to corner.
227. 1680 Mints (‘Plantae Galeatae
Verticillatae’) Heavy plate oxidation, some chemical marks of some sort, signs
of the wrapper used, plate is uniform in size and about 1mm thick. Some punched
up areas on back of plate. Engraver is Burghers. Plate easy to clean, the low
and high areas where text has been punched up were a little more of a problem
but should print without issue.
254. 1680 Monkshoods (‘Plantae
Multicapsulares Capsulis Disjunctis’) Dark plate mark lots of oxidisation does
not appear to have any chemical splashes etc. can clearly see newspaper text on
surface of plate. Plate is uniform in size and about 1mm thick plate engraved
by F H Van Hove, very different style to Burghers. Harder plate to clean, dark
areas more difficult to remove, probably one of the hardest so far, but looks
good, no obvious problems for printing.
262. 1680 Lady's Slipper Orchids (‘Plantae
Multicapslares Polyspermae’) plate dark with some oxidation can clearly see
text on plate some indications of chemical splashes, plate is not quite uniform
and about 1mm thick. Areas of the plate have been punched up on rear of plate
text areas towards the top of the plate. The plate is engraved by F H Van Hove,
Cleaned fairly easily, plate not even upward curve but should be ok for
printing, note scratch on plate in centre about 80mm long, unfortunate.
Package
4
Plates
270. 1680 Potatoes/ Tomatoes (‘Plantae
Bacciferae Racemosae’) plate dark in places oxidised but reticulated somewhat,
some signs of chemical damage, plate slightly bent even size about 1mm thick
some faint signs of newsprint, engraver is F H Van Hove, fairly easy to clean
some of the areas needed some extra help but other than that OK, some small
parts of plate Top right have small lump or deposit did not try to remove but
it may come off when being printed.
July
17th 2017
271.
1680 Mandrake (‘Plantae Baccifera Fructu Simplici’) Dark plate some
lettering can be seesn across surface, even sizing and about 1mm thick engraver
F H Van Hove, fairly easy to clean some areas had a lot of text on the plate
from newspapers, some tiny imperfections on the pate which will show when
printing.
276. 1680 Cyclamens (‘Plantae Bacciferis
Affines Floribus Nutantibus’) plate not too bad condition some reticulation
around engraved areas, looks like a chemical of some sort wiped across the
surface of the plate some areas of text form newspapers, engraver is F H Van
Hove, Plate is uniform size and about 1mm thick Plate easy to clean, a few
harder areas but generally good. Again, some small areas of imperfections that
will print.
278. 1680 Ferns (‘Plantae Capillares Tollis
Lobatis’) plate dark and has some chemical splash across lower middle area,
newsprint can be seen quite dark. Plate is uniform in size and 1mm thick
engraver is F H Van Hove. Not that easy to clean, quite allot of poor areas
caused by what looked like cloth of some sort across the upper half of the
palate. The chemical splash across the lower centre of the plate was removed
easily.
288. 1680 Lichens & Duchess of Beaufort
(*‘Plantae Anomalae Inferioris Ordins Musli Et Musco-Fungi’) Dark plate with
some areas very dark of top right hand side, newsprint text can be easily seen
some form of chemical across some parts of the plate repaired in 2 places on
back but front looks fine, regular size and about 1mm thick, plate is very
slightly bowed. Plate engraved by Burghers. Hard to clean some of the areas quite
obstinate, perhaps because it’s such a nice plate interesting crest of the plate
probably a major donor? Some areas of faults in the plate, not corrosion think
but more probable some flaws in the copper itself that have gotten worse over
time, they will probably print but can be controlled through plate wiping.
General
notes
Size of plate varies in height & width
usually by only 3-5mm but interesting for print production with such uneven
plates…but did that matter with this publication? Plates are generally in great
condition, indications are that the publication ran to about 750? copies which
is a low number for the engraved plates.
The cleaning process took 3 days in total
with 1 day prep work, after cleaning the plates were placed in a glassine
sleeve and put back into the packages they had come in and in the correct
order. Some photographic evidence of all the cleaned plates and some videos
taken of the cleaning process.
Next
Steps
The printing of a selection of some of the
cleaned plates is the obvious next step. I haven’t had the opportunity to view
the facilities available within the Centre for the Study of the Book. The type
of press I would need would be a geared rolling press, perhaps to note that OUP
has one in its Museum which I have used in the past.
Notes
From
Dr Stephen Harris, Druce Curator Oxford University Herbarium
|
Plate Number
|
Morison classification
|
Theme
|
|
8
|
Sect. 1, Tab. 8
|
Pumpkins
|
|
31
|
Sect. 2, Tab. 23
|
Sensitive plants
|
|
34
|
Sect. 3, Tab. 1
|
Cabbages
|
|
74
|
Sect. 4, Tab. 17
|
Tulips
|
|
75
|
Sect. 4, Tab. 18
|
Fritillaries
|
|
131
|
Sect. 6, Tab. 6
|
Sunflowers
|
|
152
|
Sect. 7, Tab. 12
|
Oxford ragwort
|
|
177
|
Sect. 7, Tab. 37
|
Pineapples & cactuses
|
|
178
|
Sect. 8, Tab. 1
|
Wheat
|
|
190
|
Sect. 8, Tab. 13
|
Maize
|
|
191
|
Sect. 8, Tab. 14
|
Gingers
|
|
208
|
Sect. 9, Tab. 13
|
Carrots
|
|
227
|
Sect. 11, Tab. 7
|
Mints
|
|
254
|
Sect. 12, Tab. 3
|
Monkshoods
|
|
262
|
Sect. 12, Tab. 11
|
Lady's slipper orchids
|
|
270
|
Sect. 13, Tab. 1
|
Potatoes/ tomatoes
|
|
271
|
Sect. 13, Tab. 2
|
Mandrake
|
|
276
|
Sect. 13, Tab. 7
|
Cyclamens
|
|
278
|
Sect. 14, Tab. 2
|
Ferns
|
|
288
|
Sect. 15, Tab. 7
|
Lichens & Duchess of Beaufort
|
