Occupation - Copper Plate Printer

In the great age of English illustrated-book publishing, 1785–1840, the most important and least identifiable manufacturers of the illustrations were the printers of the copperplates.

Printers of typographic materials were often identified in the books they printed, but the printers of the graphic were rarely identified. The two kinds of printing were done on different presses, one for printing from the surface of the type, and a rolling press for copperplates printing from the engraved recesses of the copperplate.

This is a sub project of the Occupations Portal

In the Pepys Library there is an invitation card for a dinner organised by the 'Loving Society of Roling-PressPrinters' in about 1685. If Pepys, who took a keen interest in engraving, had not pasted this invitation into one ofhis scrap books we would know nothing of this society, and there is no other records of associations of copperplate printers in London. (see image above) The Pepys invitation is to a William Hawkins who is unknown, and of the two stewards who signed the card, one, Joseph Nutting, is recorded as an architectural engraver, but the other, John Brodstock, is unknown. We know the names of one or two other copperplate printers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries from a few trade cards and records of printers and but there is no surviving archive of a copperplate printer before the Bewick archive from the early nineteenth century.

Copper-plate-printers London

A

• Ash, John, engraver and copperplate printer, 96, Borough (1817)
• Ashby, Harry, engraver and printer, various addresses (1774–1813)
• Augutter, James, copperplate printer, 23, Theobald’s Road (1799–1802)

B

• Backhouse, John, copperplate printer, 14, St George’s Court, Clerkenwell(1817)
• Bailey, Richard, copperplate printer, 30, Berwick St (1799)
• Bailey, William, printer and music seller, various addresses (1770–93)
• Ballard, William, engraver and printer, 50 Cannon St, Radcliffe (1836–40)
• Barfield, John, printer, 92, Wardour St, Soho (1796–1842), copperplate printer to the Prince of Wales, 1805
• Basire, John, engraver and printer, various addresses (1784–1805)
• Bass, J., copperplate printer, Saint Martin’s le Grand (1817)
• Baxter, George, he developed a method of printing in oil colour, patented in 1835.
• Bell & Wright, copperplate printers, 20 Duke St, Bloomsbury (1817)
• Bennett, Thomas, engraver and copperplate printer, various address (1759–99)
• Bird, Jacob, copperplate printer, 10 West St, Seven Dials (1826–29)
• Bishop, John, copperplate printer and engraver, 20, Albion Buildings (1817)
• Bishop, Sarah, copperplate printer, 147, Aldersgate St (1805)
• Bishop, William, copperplate printer, various addresses (including Aldersgate St, 1805 (1796–1828)
• Blake, William (1727–1827), engraver, printer, artist, poet, various addresses
• Blake, William Staden, engraver and printer, 16 Change Alley, Cornhill (1785–1815)
• Bland, John, music seller, engraver, printer, publisher, various addresses (1776–95)
• Blandford, Thomas, copperplate printer, King’s Head Court, Gough Square (1799–1805)
• Bore, Thomas, engraver and copperplate printer, 12 Union Row, Stepney Green (1820–28)
• Bremner, Robert, music seller, printer, and publisher, various addresses (1762–90)
• Brewis, Hannah, & Son, copperplate printer, 134 Fenchurch Street (1836)
• Briscoe, Joseph, Jr, copperplate printer, 28 Banner St, Bunhill Row (1829–68)
• Broderip and Wilkinson, music sellers, printers, and publishers, 13 Haymarket (1798–1808)
• Butler, E. engraver and printer, crooked Lane
• Brodstock, John, a member of the 'Loving Society of Roling-Press Printers' in about 1685.
• Bosse, Abraham, The actual process of taking an impression from a copperplate was described for the first time by Abraham Bosse in the caption to his large plate of 1642, and in more detail in his manual of 1645.

C

• Caulfield, John, music engraver, printer, and publisher, 36, Piccadilly (1799–1805)
• Cheesman, Thomas, copperplate printer, various addresses (1775–1800)
• Cheesman, Thomas, engraver and printer, various addresses (1802–34)
• Clowes, John, engraver and printer, 18, Gutter Lane (1784–1805)
• Cole, George, engraver and printer, 30, Kirby St (1790)
• Cole, John, copperplate printer, 18, Fore St (1790–1811)
• Cole, William, engraver and printer, various addresses (1765–92)
• Collins, James, printer and engraver, various addresses (1800–2)
• Cook, Joseph, copperplate printer, St
• Clement Danes (1783)
• Coryndon, William, copperplate printer, Fleet Market (1784)
• Couchman, Edward, engraver and copperplate printer, 10 Throgmorton St (1826-66)
• Couchman, Stephen, Jr, engraver and printer, 43 Tabernacle Walk (1820)
• Couchman, W. & S., engravers and printers (1820)
• Cox, Son, and Barnett, 6, Bream’s Buildings, Chancery Lane (1799–1827)
• Credie, Charles, copperplate printer, various addresses (1799–1805)
• Cunningham, Thomas, engraver and printer, 93 Shoe Lane, Fetter Lane (1818–22)

D

• Dale, James, music printer and publisher, 16, Bowling Green Lane, Kennington (c.1800)
• Darton, William, printer, bookseller, and engraver, various addresses (1787 1838) Dean & Law, engravers and printers, 12 Clement’s Lane (1838-44)
• DeBurson, Benjamin, engraver and printer, 25 Hill St, Finsbury (1838–43)
• Delahoy, Mrs Elizabeth, copperplate printer, stationer, and binder, 96, Deptford Bridge (1817)12
• Delegal, James, engraver and printer, various addresses (1776–99)
• Denew, John, engraver and printer, 109, Wardour St, Soho (1790)
• Dixon, John, copperplate printer, various addresses (1799–1836)
• Dodd, John, engraver and printer, 48 or 50 Aldersgate St (1800–22) <M, T >
• Dodd, T., violin maker and music printer, various addresses (1795–1819)
• Draysey, John, copperplate printer, ‘London’ (1795–c. 1811)
• Duckworth, John, music engraver, printer, and publisher, Strand (c. 1777–80)
• Duff, S., music seller, printer, and publisher, 79, Swallow St, Hanover Square (1787)

E

• Ebsworth, George, copperplate printer, 6, Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane (1793–1817)
• Eccles, George, copperplate printer, 101 Fenchurch St (1829–37)
• Ellis, John, engraver and printer, 15 Old Broad St (1814–36)
• Emslie, William, copperplate printer, 26 Little Trinity Lane (1836)
• Evans, William, copperplate printer, Cock St (1774)

F

• Farrell, Thomas, copperplate printer, various addresses (1790–1805)
• Fisher, James, copperplate printer, Fountain Court, Strand
• Faithorne, William Samuel Pepys recorded a visit to the house of the engraver and print-seller William Faithorne on I December 1666, when he bought three copies of Faithorne's portrait of Lady Castlemaine 'printed this day', suggesting that it was printed on the premises.

G

• Gadd, Joseph, copperplate printer, various addresses (1774–1784)
• Gale, John, engraver and copperplate printer, 35 or 10 Crooked Lane (1784–1817)
• Geohegan, Thomas, letterpress and copperplate printer, various addresses (1785–1804)
• Goodinge, James, engraver, ran the family printing business, 11, Great Winchester St (1799–1833)
• Goodinge, Wallinger (1711–92), engraver, ran the family printing business, Westmorland Buildings, Aldersgate St
• Gore, Luke, copperplate printer, Laizinby Court (1784)
• Gravel, James, copperplate printer, various addresses (1790–1802)
• Gray, Henry, engraver and printer, 2 Barbican (1817–24)
• Gray, John, engraver and printer, 27, Little St, Thomas Apostle (1784–1809)
• Gretton, Henry, engraver and printer, various addresses (1771–1830)

H

• Hadrill, Philip, copperplate printer, Green St, Leicester Square (1799)
• Haines, John, copperplate printer and map publisher, 19, Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane (1796–1802)
• Hancock, John, letterpress and copperplate printer and engraver, various addresses (1799– 1829)
• Hardy, Henry, copperplate printer, of the old Bailey, bankruptF
• Harford, John, copperplate printer, High St, Kingsland, West Side (1828)
• Harper, (tout court), copperplate printer, 1, Carthusian St, Charterhouse Square, 1785
• Hartnell, Joseph, copperplate printer, 12 Bermondsey St, Tooley St (1805–8)
• Hay, Edmund, seal and copperplate engraver and printer, various addresses (1799–1830)
• Hedrill, Peter, copperplate printer, Rupert St (1784)
• Helmsley, W., engraver and printer, 7 Foster Lane, Cheapside (1801–15)
• Hinton, William, engraver and printer, map and printseller, various addresses (1779–86)
• Hinton, William, copperplate printer, Horseshoe Alley, Ludgate Hill (1792)
• Hixon, Henry, copperplate printer, Cecil St Strand (1784–85)
• Hixon, William, copperplate printer, various addresses (1784, 1788)
• Holmes, William, copperplate printer, Chapel St (1774)
• Horrence, Horatio Jones, copperplate printer, 4 Charlotte Row, Poultry (1836)
• Howard, William, copperplate printer, Gutter Lane, Cheapside (1775)
• Hurst, James, copperplate printer, 3 Vauxhall Row, Lambeth (1826–55)
• Hogarth, William, Born 10/11/1697 Died 26/10/1764, Satirical artist and illustrator. Trained as an engraver, he depicted the unseemly behaviour of contemporaries in works like 'The Beggar's Opera' (1728) and 'A Rake's Progress' (1732). Much of his work was pirated and he was instrumental in the passing of the Copyright Act of 1735 which was known at the time as 'Hogarth's Act'. His widow, Jane, continued producing and selling his prints from there after his death in 1764. source

I

• Innes, William, engraver and copperplate printer, various addresses (1774–1822)

J

• Jacques, Charles, copperplate printer, 30 Kenton St, Brunswick Sq, Bloomsbury
• (1831–38)
• Jauncey, John, music engraver and printer, various addresses (1791–1810)
• Johnston, John, music seller, printer, and publisher, various addresses (1767–78)
• Joynson, Richard, copperplate printer, Molemaker Row, St Martin’s (1774)
• Judd, William, copperplate printer, Fort St Spitalfields

K

• Keating, George, engraver, printer, and bookseller, various addresses (1775–1841)
• Kelly, Samuel R., copperplate printer, 82 West Smithfield (1836)
• Kemmish, Ann, copperplate printer, 17 King St (1804–10)
• Kemmish, William, copperplate and letterpress printer, auctioneer, and appraiser, various addresses (1790–1817)
• Kerpen, John, music seller, printer, and publisher, 19, Wardour St, Soho, 1782–85
• Kidgell, John, engraver and printer, various addresses (1784–1822)
• Kimpson, John, copperplate printer, various addresses (1786–92)

L

• Lahee, James (c. 1782–1869), copperplate printer, Castle St near Oxford St (1811–40)
• Lake, John, engraver and printer, various= addresses (1784–1836)
• Large, Thomas, copperplate printer, various addresses (1782–92)
• Lawrey, William, copperplate printer and engraver, 15, Swan St, Minories (1799)
• Lemoine, Henry (1756–1812), bookseller and copperplate printer, various addresses
• Lepetit, J., copperplate printer, 22, Suffolk St, Middlesex Hospital (1799)
• Lester, James, copperplate printer, various addresses (1789–90)
• Long, Joshua, engraver and printer, various addresses (1785–1805)
• Longman, Lukey and Co, music sellers, publishers, printers, engravers, and musical instrument makers, various addresses (1767–1802)
• Luffman, John, engraver, printer, and publisher, various addresses (1776–1820)
• Loggan, David supplied one of the rolling presses to Bishop Fell's press in Oxford in 1669.
• Lewis, W Wych St

M

• McQueen & Co, copperplate printer, Newman St, Oxford St (1819–38)
• Major, R., music engraver, printer, and publisher, various addresses (1800–20)
• Martin, Robert, artist, engraver, copperplate printer, 26 Long Acre (1837–44)
• Massey, Thomas, stationer and copperplate printer, various addresses (1781–1814)
• Mayo, John, copperplate printer, 54 Bethnal Green Rd (1836–38)
• Meen, Richard, copperplate printer, various addresses (1785–90)
• Midwinter, Charles, copperplate printer, Long Lane (1789) <Maxted>
• Miles (tout court), engraver and printer, St Margaret’s Hill, Southwark (1785)
• Milhouse, William, music printer and seller, various addresses (1787–1837)
• Mottram, Edward, copperplate printer, various addresses (1785–1830)
• Moore, John, engraver and printer, St John Road (1839–40)
• Mutlow, Henry, engraver and printer, various addresses (1794–1830)

N

• Nash, James, copperplate printer, John St, Tottenham Court Road (1799)
• Neale, James, engraver and printer, 352 Strand (1828–32)
• Neale, S. J., engraver and printer, 352 Strand (1785–1827)
• Newman, William Richard, engraver and printer, Widegate St (1832–47)
• Nichols, John, engraver and printer, 9 Chandos St, Covent Garden (1835–52)
• Nicholls, Lucy, & Son, engraver and copperplate printer, Earl’s Court (1823)
• Norris, William Phillips, engraver and printer, various addresses (1799–1836)
• Noyes, James, copperplate printer, various addresses (1774–82)
• Nutcher, Charles, copperplate printer, 24 Leather Lane (1832–41)
• Nutting, Joseph, a member of the 'Loving Society of Roling-PressPrinters' in about 1685

O

• Orme, Edward, Born 1775 Died 28/9/1848, Engraver, painter and publisher of illustrated books, and property developer in Bayswater. Born Manchester. c.1800-24 he published and sold many books of aquatints and etchings, in his own shops in Conduit Street and New Bond Street. source

P

• Paas, Cornelius, engraver and printer, various addresses (1785–1832)
• Paramore, G., music printer, North Green, Worship St (1793)
• Pasquali, Francis, music engraver, printer, and publisher, Poland St near Great Marlborough St (1760–75)
• Paybody, Joseph, copperplate printer, Wych St (1774–90)
• Payne, Richard, copperplate printer, 178, Oxford St (1799)
• Pearce, William Chancey, copperplate printer, 2 Queen St, Cheapside (1832–38)
• Pearson (tout court), copperplate printer, White Hart Yard, Catherine St, Strand (1785)
• Peck, James, music engraver, printer, seller, and publisher, various addresses (1797–1832)
• Pemberton, Mary, engraver and printer, 100, Long Acre (1794–95)
• Phillips, Sarah, music engraver, printer, and publisher, Bedford Court (1766–75)
• Plummer, Thomas, letterpress and copperplate printer, various addresses (1799–1836)
• Porquet (tout court), copperplate printer, 23 Milton St, St Luke’s (1832–33)
• Porter, Thomas Smith, copperplate printer, 108 Britannia St, City Rd (1830–42)
• Pounceby, Henry, copperplate printer, 7 Cannon St, Ratcliff (1835–49)
• Prattent, T., engraver, printer, and printseller, 46, Clothfair, Smithfield (1793–1800)
• Preston, John, music printer, publisher, seller, and musical instrument maker, various addresses (1774–1834)
• Prosser, Michael, engraver and printer, 145, Swallow St (1784–85)

Q

• Quelch, Henry, copperplate printer, Blackfriars Rd, Southwark (1834–50)

R

• Ramshaw, James, copperplate printer, 7, Lombard St, Fleet St (1799)
• Randall, William, music seller, printer, and publisher, Catherine St, Strand (1766–83)
• Raymond, John, engraver and printer, 11, Ball Alley, Lombard St (1786–93)
• Read, William, engraver and printer, 24 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden (1821–23)
• Richards, Craven William, copperplate printer, Meards St, Soho (1796–1805)
• Riley, Edward, music engraver, printer, publisher, and seller, various addresses (1795–1804)
• Rogers, William, copperplate printer, Craven Buildings, Drury Lane (1790)
• Roper, John, engraver and printer, New Street Square, Shoe Lane (1799–1830)
• Ross, Thomas, copperplate printer, various addresses (1799–1823)
• Round, John, engraver and printer, 71, Little Britain (1790)
• Rowe, John, engraver and printer, 16 Change Alley, Cornhill (1819–24); as Rowe, Kentish & Osborne (1825–48)
• Rudd & Co, copperplate printers, 15 Panton St, Haymarket (1836)
• Ruming, David, copperplate printer, 35 Warren St, Fitzroy Sq (1799)
• Ryland, Edward, copperplate printer, 124, Fetter Lane (1790–1817) (wife Mary, so, of same trade William Wynne Ryland)
• Ryland, John, engraver, printer, and printseller, St Martin Ludgate (1776)
• Roycroft, Thomas, the famous printer of the Polyglot Bible. Nos. 55, 56, Bartholomew Close, West Smithfield, London. source

S

• Sawyer & Son, engravers and printers, 43 Dean St, Soho (1828–33)
• Sawyer, Henry, engraver and printer, 17 Fenchurch St, Soho (1827–37)
• Sculthorpe, John, engraver and printer, various addresses (1799–1825)
• Sears, Robert, engraver and printer, 51 Fenchurch St (1839)
• Sheppard, Charles, copperplate printer and printseller, various addresses (1778–98)
• Sherborn, Charles, engraver and printer, 41, Gutter Lane, Cheapside (1784–85)
• Shilton, William, copperplate printer, Portland St (1774–84)
• Sibbald, J., copperplate printer (1793–96)
• Simpkins, Henry Morris, engraver and printer, 46 Upper John St, Fitzroy Sq (1831–41)
• Simpkins, William, engraver and printer, various addresses (1790–1802)
• Simpson, James, musical instrument maker, music printer and publisher, various addresses (1764–95)
• Simpson, John, musical instrument maker, music printer and seller, various addresses (1765–97)
• Skelton, William, copperplate printer, St James, Westminster (1777)
• Skelton, William (d. 1848), historical engraver and copperplate printer, various addresses
• Smith, John, copperplate printer, King’s Head Court, Shoe Lane (1784–92)
• Sparks (tout court), copperplate printer, 12, Prince’s St, Soho (1785)
• Spear, Elizabeth, engraver and copperplate printer, Black Raven Court (1829–30)
• Spear, Richard, engraver and printer, various addresses (1792–1830)
• Spettigue, Edmund, copperplate printer, 19 Guildford Place, Spa Fields (1836)
• Starling, Robert, engraver and printer, 22 Hedge Row, Islington (1835–35)
• Stewardson, Joseph, copperplate printer and engraver, Grafton St, Soho (1796–1805)
• Straight, S., music engraver, printer, and publisher, Green St, Leicester Sq (1790–1819)
• Suffield, John, engraver and printer, 185, Fleet St (1800–9)

T

• Thompson (tout court), copperplate printer, 14, Paved Alley, St Sepulchre’s (1785)
• Thompson, George, copperplate printer, 50, Old Bailey (1790–96)
• Thompson, George, engraver, printer, map and bookseller, 43, Long Lane, West
• Smithfield (1799–1830)
• Thompson, George (Sr), copperplate printer, 43 Long Acre, Cheapside (1807–9)
• Thompson, George (Jr), copperplate printer, 81 Dorset St, Salisbury Sq (1832–39)
• Thompson, John, engraver and printer, 44, Gutter Lane, Cheapside (1780–1821)
• Thompson, John Peter, engraver, printer, and printseller, various addresses (1792–1819)
• Thompson, Samuel, musical instrument maker, music printer, seller, and publisher, various addresses under various names, 1746–1805
• Thorowgood, Edward, engraver and printer, various addresses (1799–1832)
• Thorowgood, I. H., engraver and printer, 5 King St, Cheapside (1827–32)
• Timbury, James, bookbinder’s toolcutter, engraver, and printer, various addresses (1785–1830)
• Tomkins, P. R., copperplate printer, 12, Queen St, Golden Square (1799–1830)
• Tosswill, Charles Speare, engraver and printer, 24 Budge Row, Cannon St (1839–46)
• Towes, Christopher, engraver and printer, various addresses (1784–98)
• Trapp & Brown, copperplate printers, 32 Budge Row, Watling St (1832)
• Trapp, John, engraver and printer, 31 Budge Row, Watling St (1832)
• Triquet, Edward George, engraver and printer, 3 White Lion Ct, Birchin Lane, Cornhill (1819–26)
• Turner, William, engraver and printer, London Rd, St George’s Fields (1817)

V

• Vernon (tout court), copperplate printer, 17, Bear Alley, Fleet Market (1785)
• Vizetelly, James Henry, engraver and printer, 135 Fleet Street (1827–41)

W

• Wadham, John, copperplate printer, Bethna Green (1799)
• Wadham, John George, engraver and printer, 26 Abchurch St, Wadham (1823–27)
• Ward, James, engraver and printer, various addresses (1792–1830)
• Wayte, John, letterpress and copperplate printer, 26, Widegate St, Bishopsgate without (1800–9)
• Welcker, John, music seller, engraver, printer, and publisher, various addresses (1775–85)
• Welcker, Peter, music seller, engraver, printer, and publisher, various addresses (1777–85)
• Well(s), John, aquatinta engraver and printer, 237, Holborn (1795)
• Whitaker, Maurice Phelps, musical instrument maker, music printer and publisher, various addresses (1760–80)
• Whiting, Charles, engraver and printer, (1829–32)
• Wilkinson (tout court), copperplate printer, 50, Bunhill Row, Moorfields (1785)
• Williams, Thomas, engraver, printer, print and music seller and publisher, various addresses (1783–90)
• Williams, Thomas, music engraver and printer, 18, Clerkenwell Green (1778–83)
• Willmore, James, copperplate printer, 19 Chapter St, Vauxhall (1838)
• Wood & Chandler, copperplate printers, 41 Beech St, Barbican (1835–38)
• Woodman, T., engraver, printer, map and printseller, 30, Russell Court, Drury Lane (1772–93)
• Worship, William, engraver and printer, 14½ Newington Causeway (1826–33)
• Wright, Harman (or Hermond), music printer, seller, and publisher, various addresses, 1783–1803

Y

• Young, Samuel, copperplate printer, various addresses (1792, 1795)

Famous and Infamous

• William Wynne Ryland (hanged for forgery) was born November 1733 and baptized 2nd December of that year at St Martin, Ludgate, London, the son of Edward Ryland and his wife Mary. Like his father William learnt his trade as an engraver and copper plate printer. He was assisted by his godfather, Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, to visit France and Italy. He stayed in Paris for around five years, studying drawing under François Boucher, and engraving under Jacques Philippe Le Bas. He married Mary Brown on the 15th August 1758 at St Mary’s, Lambeth. He thus secured the patronage and friendship of George III, and received the appointment of engraver to the king, with an annual salary of £200. With his new found wealth Ryland enjoyed the good life of a gentleman, but soon tired of it. He decided to open a print shop in Cornhill with a business partner, but by December 1771 he was in debt and declared bankrupt. After a while he resumed business as a print-seller in the Strand, but before long he retired to a private residence at Knightsbridge, from which he was to disappear on the 1st of April 1783. On Saturday 26th July, Ryland was convicted of ‘uttering and publishing as true, knowing it to be forged, a certain bill of exchange, bearing date in India October 15, 1780 and purporting to be drawn upon the Directors of the East India Company for the payment of £210 with a forged acceptance thereon with intent to defraud Mss. Ransom and co’. On Friday 29th August 1783 William Wynne Ryland was hanged at Tyburn leaving behind a wife and six children, his execution being delayed some time by a violent thunderstorm. He was buried on the 3rd September 1783 at St Dunstan’s Church, Feltham, Middlesex where his parents were also buried. https://georgianera.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/william-wynne-ryland-h...

Source:

• Ian Maxted, The London Book Trades 1775–1800: A Preliminary Checklist of Members (Dawson, 1977)
• William B. Todd, A Directory of Printers and Others in Allied Trades London and Vicinity 1800–1840 (London: Printing Historical Society, 1972) .
• Universal British Directory (1817)
• Lists of personell in the book and printing trades
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engraving
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printmaking
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Engravers_by_nationality
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Etchers
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Printmakers
• https://muse.jhu.edu/article/674966/pdf

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