Help needed to identify an old print. (Platinum??)

Hi all

I have obtained an old print amidst a batch of postcards that I bought and I
am trying to identify it.
First off you can see it at:
http://www.stephanie01.freesurf.fr/
The front of the print says "On the Lake of Como"
The rear of the print states "Reproduced from the negative by G. R.
Ballance"

The print is on heavy paper and there is a visible impression mark with
rounded corners about 5mm outside the edges of the print (you can see this
on the images at the above link).

I believe that this is actually printed off a negative by GK Ballance - a
photographer who was active in the early 1900s in Europe - anybody know
where I could obtain further information?

The quality of the print (75mm by 105mm) is excellent and I was also
wondering if it is a platinum print? It is quite old and not at all degraded
through time - any ideas how I can confirm or deny my idea??

All input welcome!

Graeme

"Graeme" wrote

I have obtained an old print amidst a batch of postcards that I bought and I
am trying to identify it. First off you can see it at:
http://www.stephanie01.freesurf.fr/

The front of the print says "On the Lake of Como"
The rear of the print states "Reproduced from the negative by G. R.
Ballance"

The print is on heavy paper and there is a visible impression mark with
rounded corners about 5mm outside the edges of the print (you can see this
on the images at the above link).

[What method was used to print the image? Platinum?]

The printing at the bottom suggests this is a mechanical reproduction.

From the embossing I would guess with 99% confidence it is
photogravure. Though, it may be a collotype. Who knows
.. . . (dramatic pause) . . . maybe a Woodburytype . . .
[Hands up those who have read Dr Seuss's "McElligots Pool".]

The place where the expert(s) in these things hang out is
rec.photo.darkroom. I have cross-posted this there.

Good places for perusing old photographic processes a

http://www.cycleback.com/earlybaseba...mechanical.htm
http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/micros.../processes.php
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1/1_earl..._processes.htm

Along with oodles of other sites.

What the heck, how about a Digital Woodburytype:

www2.uiah.fi/conferences/impact/thirkell/Thirkell.pdf

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.

Hard to say looking at a digital image on my computer screen, but it looks
like a gravure, an early process (recently revived) for photo reproduction,
using an etched copper plate.

Thank you Nicholas and John for the gravure technique - also many thanks for
the links to the photo techniques pages - highly informative.

Graeme

"Nicholas O. Lindan" wrote in message
ink.net...
"Graeme" wrote

I have obtained an old print amidst a batch of postcards that I bought
and I
am trying to identify it. First off you can see it at:
http://www.stephanie01.freesurf.fr/

The front of the print says "On the Lake of Como"
The rear of the print states "Reproduced from the negative by G. R.
Ballance"

The print is on heavy paper and there is a visible impression mark with
rounded corners about 5mm outside the edges of the print (you can see
this
on the images at the above link).

[What method was used to print the image? Platinum?]

The printing at the bottom suggests this is a mechanical reproduction.

From the embossing I would guess with 99% confidence it is
photogravure. Though, it may be a collotype. Who knows
. . . (dramatic pause) . . . maybe a Woodburytype . . .
[Hands up those who have read Dr Seuss's "McElligots Pool".]

The place where the expert(s) in these things hang out is
rec.photo.darkroom. I have cross-posted this there.

Good places for perusing old photographic processes a

http://www.cycleback.com/earlybaseba...mechanical.htm
http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/micros.../processes.php
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1/1_earl..._processes.htm

Along with oodles of other sites.

What the heck, how about a Digital Woodburytype:

www2.uiah.fi/conferences/impact/thirkell/Thirkell.pdf

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.