Engraved books

In this episode, we delve into the delicate process of creating a book by engraving on to copper plates and then printing from these plates on to paper.

We also learn about a completely engraved book - a very unusual, painstaking and expensive endeavour that was financially supported by and created for an elite English audience. 

Go to SoundCloud for this Meet a Rare Book episode

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See the books

Quinti Horatii Flacci opera, 1733.

The two volumes of Pine’s ‘Horace’ are often cited as the finest completely engraved books ever made.

Horace. Quinti Horatii Flacci opera, Volume 2, 1733. Click to see in detail on Kura Heritage Collections Online.

Designs by Mr. R. Bentley, for six poems by T. Gray, 1753.

This illustration contains allusions to the main subjects of the poems in this book.  The flowers and rustic pipe refer to the ‘Ode on the spring’ and the inscribed altar, spade and skull refer to the ‘Elegy written in a country church yard.’

​Thomas Gray. Designs by Mr. R. Bentley, for six poems by T. Gray, 1753. Click to see in detail on Kura Heritage Collections Online

You may also like

Kura Heritage Collections Online

• Quinti Horatii Flacci opera, Volume 1, 1733
  
• Quinti Horatii Flacci opera, Volume 2, 1733
  
• Thomas Gray. Designs by Mr. R. Bentley, for six poems by T. Gray, 1753
  
• William Blake. America: a prophecy, 1793
  
• William Blake. Europe: a prophecy, 1794