Collection: Antique Steel Engravings

During the early part of the 19th century copper was replaced by steel for many sorts of printing plates. An American, Jacob Perkins, developed a process of steel engraving for banknotes in 1819. Steel was much harder wearing, meaning that thousands of impressions could be taken before signs of wear appeared. Steel also allowed the engraver to produce much finer detail than copper, because the wear on the plate was much slower. The engraving was made on steel that had been annealed to soften it. After the plate had been engraved on it was rehardened. With the advent of steel engraving, there was a new impetus given to produce illustrated books, as the much greater number of prints possible from a steel plate reduced the costs of printing images. 1820 to 1840 was the last great age of line engraving. Steel allowed line engraving to be pushed to the limit, with prints being produced in such detail that one needs a magnifying glass to see the individual lines.

42 products
  • Brighton from Kemp Town - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1838
    Brighton from Kemp Town - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1838
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    £78.00
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  • Antique Map of Sussex by T Moule - Steel Engraving circa 1848
    Antique Map of Sussex by T Moule - Steel Engraving circa 1848
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    £160.00
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  • Kemptown, Brighton - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1841
    The Pavilion Brighton - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1841
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    £58.00
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  • Marine Parade & Chain Pier Brighton - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1845
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    £68.00
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  • Henry VIII - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1850
    Henry VIII - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1850
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    £45.00
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  • The Monument - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1828
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    £26.00
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  • The New National Gallery - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1858
    The New National Gallery - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1858
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    £30.00
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  • Hurstmonceaux Castle - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1870
    Hurstmonceaux Castle - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1870
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    £25.00
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  • Hammersmith Bridge - Antique Steel Engraving 1828
    Hammersmith Bridge - Antique Steel Engraving 1828
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    £38.00
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    £38.00
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  • New London Bridge - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1828
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    £32.00
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  • East Front of the Bank of England - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1828
    East Front of the Bank of England - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1828
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    £36.00
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    £36.00
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  • Westminster Hospital - Antique Steel Engraving, circa 1851
    Westminster Hospital - Antique Steel Engraving circa 1851
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    £28.00
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    £28.00
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