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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: JeanneCurt on February 12, 2016, 11:51:49 AM

Title: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: JeanneCurt on February 12, 2016, 11:51:49 AM: Hi,

I bought this copper etching mounted on a wood block yesterday for .25. I wondered what it would have been used for.

There are some ink stains on the wood so I assume some kind of printing but there is almost no texture to to. It is very smooth but is made up of tiny dots.

It measures about 1 1/2" X 2 1/2".

Thanks in advance for any information.

Jeanne
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: Ipcress on February 12, 2016, 01:23:15 PM: Well you've done alright for that price !

" F. Roy Dean was an amateur lepidopterist and taxidermist. He contributed several short articles
to Lepidoptera in 1918, including the description of two aberrant butterflies "

Lots of keen collectors in this field.
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: mart on February 12, 2016, 01:32:51 PM: Well,, Obviously it was part of a collection,,but is the moth itself copper or is the background copper !! Almost looks like a photographic image !! And that date is 1919 !! I think you did well too !!
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: JeanneCurt on February 12, 2016, 01:42:42 PM: You are right..1918. The top is one piece 1/8" or a little less that is mounted to the wood with little pieces that bend over. The whole top is a series if tiny dots.

What would it be used for?
Jeanne
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: mart on February 12, 2016, 04:42:15 PM: Oh !! So its done in the negative ?? The dots are done on the copper plate everywhere that is not the moth ??
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: cogar on February 13, 2016, 05:20:37 AM: I think what you have can be best explained by the following link, ….. so click on it and see what you think.

http://www.donaldheald.com/pages/books/27575/charles-magnus/montreal-original-copper-printing-plate-for-letter-sheet-view (http://www.donaldheald.com/pages/books/27575/charles-magnus/montreal-original-copper-printing-plate-for-letter-sheet-view)
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: mart on February 13, 2016, 05:37:22 AM: 1 1/2 X 2 1/2,, wouldn`t that be kind of small for a printing plate ??
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: cogar on February 13, 2016, 07:12:00 AM: Mart,

That depends on what is being published.

Life magazine preferred publishing 1/2 to full page pictures.

A Field Guide Manual for birds or moths identification purposes would only require small pictures in a size range of 1 ½” X 2 ½”.

To wit:

(http://birdingblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Birds-of-Colombia-ProAves-Plate-Tanagers-2.jpg)
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: mart on February 13, 2016, 07:27:40 AM: Mmmm,,, guess that would be about right for a scientific journal !!
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: cogar on February 13, 2016, 11:38:33 AM: Mart, I am a biologist so that was an easy guess for me.

Here is a page of moth photos.

(http://hivewire3d.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1600x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/1/1/11065-nature-s-wonder-moths-of-the-world-vol-2-promo0.jpg)
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: JeanneCurt on February 13, 2016, 12:58:10 PM: Here is a close up photo of what I mean by the dot pattern. There is no texture at all.
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: Rauville on February 13, 2016, 02:31:22 PM: Here's a good primer on the Halftone / Dot printing process.
http://www.metropostcard.com/techniques6.html (http://www.metropostcard.com/techniques6.html)
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: mart on February 13, 2016, 07:39:16 PM: Quote from: cogar on February 13, 2016, 11:38:33 AM
Mart, I am a biologist so that was an easy guess for me.

Here is a page of moth photos.

(http://hivewire3d.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1600x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/1/1/11065-nature-s-wonder-moths-of-the-world-vol-2-promo0.jpg)

They are interesting creatures !!
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: JeanneCurt on February 13, 2016, 10:05:05 PM: Thanks! It seems to be the dot half tone. It is an interesting little piece.
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: ghopper1924 on February 15, 2016, 04:11:55 PM: Nice, and from my home state! Those moths are called "Underwings" because the forewing (top wing) mimics tree bark while the hindwing (underneath) is usually a bright color, often pink or orange. The flare of color is supposed to startle predators

Anyway, very handsome!
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: JeanneCurt on February 17, 2016, 09:03:48 PM: Hi!
I have one more question. What would they do with this?
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: awhitetriangle on February 18, 2016, 06:58:02 AM: its a lithographic printing plate mate...
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: KC on February 18, 2016, 01:24:30 PM: Just catching up on this (sorry been out alot with hubby's surgery).

What a neat print block and fun thread on this! All of the forum family never ceases to amaze me with their knowledge and backgrounds! :) LOVE THIS FORUM!!!!!

Now, this piece is is very desirable by so many! Interior decorators, those with zoology/biology interests, butterfly/moth lovers, Printing/litho and historical lovers....

I really like it! Have seen items like this displayed with actual prints made from them in multiple colors.

Also, forgot those were called Underwing Moths. We have some gorgeous ones (but small) around us!
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: cogar on February 19, 2016, 05:32:36 AM: A moth, ...... hiding in plain sight.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GwbPBTTe7p8/U7IRgjYfxgI/AAAAAAAAVHI/_8QBxX9HA68/s1600/6+3E1A1578_edited-1.jpg)
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: ghopper1924 on February 20, 2016, 02:22:31 PM: Yep, that's it! :)
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: mart on February 21, 2016, 05:47:27 AM: Mother Nature is a brilliant person,,isn`t she ??
Title: Re: 1928 Copper Etching of a moth ????
Post by: KC on February 22, 2016, 04:44:17 PM: That is soooooo cool! I have always been amazed at how the moths look "furry" towards the facial area!

Now my mind has gone to the long touted Mothman of West Virginia.....(imagine Twilight Zone music)