Print Room Collection

Colours derived from coal tar (colour litho)
7185313 Colours derived from coal tar (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The range of wonderful colours derived from coal tar)

Advertisement for Mander Brothers letterpress inks (colour litho)
7200706 Advertisement for Mander Brothers letterpress inks (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for Mander Brothers letterpress inks)

Advertisement for the linotype composing machine, Linotype Company Limited (colour litho)
7200689 Advertisement for the linotype composing machine, Linotype Company Limited (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

In the Cabinet des Estampes, Bibliotheque Nationale, 1897. The search for bygone fashions
5913120 In the Cabinet des Estampes, Bibliotheque Nationale, 1897. The search for bygone fashions. Two women in dresses with corseted waists

Johannes Gutenberg showing his friend Johann Fust his first printed sheet, c1450 (engraving)
7148064 Johannes Gutenberg showing his friend Johann Fust his first printed sheet, c1450 (engraving) by Reiffenstein, Leo (1856-1921); Private Collection; (add.info)

A European printshop circa 1590 (engraving)
7239683 A European printshop circa 1590 (engraving) by Galle, Philip (1537-1612) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: After a work by Philips Galle.); Photo © Ken Welsh

William Caxton (colour litho)
7190988 William Caxton (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: William Caxton. One of a set of portraits of historical figures that appeared in)

Washington, DC: The Mall, View looking Southwest from near the Department of Agriculture (b / w photo)
7156779 Washington, DC: The Mall, View looking Southwest from near the Department of Agriculture (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Mall)

Presse double pour les ouvrages illustres (engraving)
7162706 Presse double pour les ouvrages illustres (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Presse double pour les ouvrages illustres)

Presse lithographique de fer (engraving)
7162697 Presse lithographique de fer (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Presse lithographique de fer)

The invention of printing (litho)
7170927 The invention of printing (litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The invention of printing)

Printing workshop (colour litho)
7172620 Printing workshop (colour litho) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Printing workshop)

Title page of The Faerie Queene, 1611 (engraving)
7185629 Title page of The Faerie Queene, 1611 (engraving) by English School, (17th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Title page of The Faerie Queene, 1611)

Laurens Janszoon Coster, Dutch printer (engraving)
7185526 Laurens Janszoon Coster, Dutch printer (engraving) by English School, (17th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Laurens Janszoon Coster (c1370-c1440)

Johannes Gutenberg, German inventor, printer and publisher (engraving)
7185485 Johannes Gutenberg, German inventor, printer and publisher (engraving) by English School, (17th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Johannes Gutenberg (c1400-1468)

Advertisement for rubber printing rollers, Rubberine (colour litho)
7200707 Advertisement for rubber printing rollers, Rubberine (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for rubber printing rollers, Rubberine)

Chart showing colour graduations in the spectrum of white light (colour litho)
7200705 Chart showing colour graduations in the spectrum of white light (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Advertisement for the Perfect Drying Rack, Gould and Reeves (colour litho)
7200674 Advertisement for the Perfect Drying Rack, Gould and Reeves (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for the Perfect Drying Rack)

Arms of the Stationers Company (litho)
7200667 Arms of the Stationers Company (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Arms of the Stationers Company)

Finishing room at a printers (litho)
7200665 Finishing room at a printers (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Finishing room at a printers)

Advertisement for photo engraved plates for colour work, Meisenbach Company (colour litho)
7200704 Advertisement for photo engraved plates for colour work, Meisenbach Company (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Advertisement for R Cundall and Sons printing machines (colour litho)
7200696 Advertisement for R Cundall and Sons printing machines (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Advertisement for monograms and ornaments for printers, Frederic Wesselhoeft (colour litho)
7200675 Advertisement for monograms and ornaments for printers, Frederic Wesselhoeft (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Cutting overlays at a printers (litho)
7200664 Cutting overlays at a printers (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cutting overlays at a printers)

Salle des presses dans l imprimerie de Giesecke et Devrient a Leipzig (engraving)
7162713 Salle des presses dans l imprimerie de Giesecke et Devrient a Leipzig (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Gutenberg, Fust et Schoeffer considerant les premieres epreuves de l art de l imprimerie (coloured engraving)
7162665 Gutenberg, Fust et Schoeffer considerant les premieres epreuves de l art de l imprimerie (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Gutenberg)

Three colour process of printing (colour litho)
7148257 Three colour process of printing (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Three colour process of printing)

Mechanical factors required when putting together mailshots for an advertising campaign (litho)
7201281 Mechanical factors required when putting together mailshots for an advertising campaign (litho) by American School

A wrong fount mouth, cartoon mocking the pitfalls of the printing process (litho)
7200680 A wrong fount mouth, cartoon mocking the pitfalls of the printing process (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A wrong fount mouth)

Advertisement for Frederic Wesselhoeft ornaments for printers (colour litho)
7200692 Advertisement for Frederic Wesselhoeft ornaments for printers (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Advertisement for Days Shading printing Mediums, W O Felt (litho)
7200690 Advertisement for Days Shading printing Mediums, W O Felt (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for Days Shading printing Mediums, W O Felt)

The machine slipped, cartoon mocking the pitfalls of the printing process (litho)
7200684 The machine slipped, cartoon mocking the pitfalls of the printing process (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The machine slipped)

Advertisement for the Herne Bay Advertiser (litho)
7200676 Advertisement for the Herne Bay Advertiser (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for the Herne Bay Advertiser)

Advertisement for the Victory Book Folding Machine, James Salmon and Son (colour litho)
7200670 Advertisement for the Victory Book Folding Machine, James Salmon and Son (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Composing department at a printers (litho)
7200663 Composing department at a printers (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Composing department at a printers)

Colour wheel of primary, secondary and tertiary colours (colour litho)
7200662 Colour wheel of primary, secondary and tertiary colours (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Colour wheel of primary)

Advertisement for H Savage, stamp ink and press makers, London (colour litho)
7200659 Advertisement for H Savage, stamp ink and press makers, London (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for H Savage)

Cour d entree de l Imprimerie imperiale (engraving)
7179436 Cour d entree de l Imprimerie imperiale (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cour d entree de l Imprimerie imperiale)

Queen Elizabeth I, title page of A Booke of Christian Prayers, 16th Century (engraving)
7185635 Queen Elizabeth I, title page of A Booke of Christian Prayers, 16th Century (engraving) by English School, (16th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Queen Elizabeth I)

Title page of The Birth of Mankind, 1614 (engraving)
7185632 Title page of The Birth of Mankind, 1614 (engraving) by English School, (17th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Title page of The Birth of Mankind, 1614)

Frost Fair on the River Thames, 1684 (engraving)
7179119 Frost Fair on the River Thames, 1684 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Frost Fair on the River Thames, 1684)

Very badly mixed, cartoon mocking the pitfalls of the printing process (litho)
7200682 Very badly mixed, cartoon mocking the pitfalls of the printing process (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Very badly mixed)

Advertisement for Harvey Dalziels process of taking a mould from a wood engraving (litho)
7200660 Advertisement for Harvey Dalziels process of taking a mould from a wood engraving (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Night Amusements, c. 1770 (hand coloured mezzotint)
6431694 Night Amusements, c.1770 (hand coloured mezzotint) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection

Ouvrier Compositeur devant sa Casse (engraving)
7158267 Ouvrier Compositeur devant sa Casse (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ouvrier Compositeur devant sa Casse)

Une machine pour la composition (engraving)
7162714 Une machine pour la composition (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Une machine pour la composition)

Printing the Sheets (engraving)
7162465 Printing the Sheets (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Printing the Sheets)

Title page of A Book of Christian Prayers, 1608 (engraving)
7185628 Title page of A Book of Christian Prayers, 1608 (engraving) by English School, (17th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Title page of A Book of Christian Prayers, 1608)

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

Step into the world of print rooms, where colors come alive through coal tar. From vibrant hues to subtle shades, the art of lithography brings them all together. Mander Brothers letterpress inks advertise their mastery in this realm, capturing attention with every stroke. In the Print Room at the National Library, two women adorned in corseted waists and puff shoulders immerse themselves in a treasure trove of fashion prints. Here, bygone fashions find new life as they inspire modern trends. Travel back centuries to witness Johannes Gutenberg's groundbreaking moment as he proudly presents his first printed sheet to Johann Fust. The birth of printing revolutionizes communication forever. A glimpse into a European printshop circa 1590 reveals an industrious atmosphere filled with creativity and dedication. Every engraving tells a story, preserving history for generations to come. William Caxton's legacy shines brightly through colorful lithographs that celebrate his contributions to the printing world. His pioneering spirit continues to inspire those who follow in his footsteps. From Washington, DC's Mall comes a black and white photo capturing the essence of timelessness. It reminds us that even amidst progress and innovation, we must cherish our roots and heritage. Presse double pour les ouvrages illustres showcases an engraving depicting a double press used for illustrated works—a testament to craftsmanship meeting artistry seamlessly. The Presse lithographique de fer stands tall as another engraved marvel—its iron structure symbolizing strength and endurance within the printing industry. Witnessing "The Invention of Printing" through lithography transports us back to pivotal moments when ideas transformed into tangible form—a true testament to human ingenuity. Finally, enter a bustling printing workshop brought vividly to life through color lithographs—the heartbeats echoing from each machine remind us that this timeless craft continues its journey forward while honoring its rich past.