Description: This sale is for three USGS copper plates of the Schroon Lake Quadrangle (NY) surveyed in 1895, first published 1898. Parts of Minerva, Schroon, Chestertownn, Newcomb, North Hudson are shown. Numerous places are called out such as South Schroon, Schroon Lake, Blue Ridge, Minerva, Irishtown, Olmstedville, among others. There are lots of places with family names such as: Chaney Lake, Andrew Brook, Bailey Hill, Durgin Brook, Hayes Mountain, Bigsby Hill, Loch Muller, etc. The plates were cleaned using the method recommended by the National Museum Curator USGS National Center. The engravings on the cleaned plates were not enhanced or coated, and the plates are unframed. The plates could be hung with mirror clips, put on a shelf or framed. Note that the plates were photographed outside, so the reflection of clouds can be seen in the plates. They have a near mirror finish as shown in a couple photos where I deliberately allowed the camera and part of the roof of my garage to be seen. A Brief History of the Plates and USGS Map printing From the 1880s to the 1950s, the U. S. Geological Survey used engraved copper plates in the process of printing many thousands of topographic and geographic quadrangle maps at several map scales. The heavy engraving plates were inscribed with the points, contour lines, symbols, and text that constitute a topographic map. The plates ranged in size from 4-by-5 inches to 36-by-40 inches; the majority measured 17-by-21 inches with an average weight of around 12.5 pounds each (as is this set). The Printing Process – From Plates to Paper A complicating aspect of this historical USGS printing process is that prints were not directly made from the plates. USGS transferred the image from the engraved plate to a special lithographic stone in order to make large numbers of prints, an approach that preserved the crispness of the engraving. Otherwise, the accuracy of the engraving would have been lost due to the repeated pressure required to transfer the image directly from the plate to each paper copy. For printing purposes, the copper engravings were mirror images (left-to-right reversed). Etched by a USGS cartographic technician called a “map engraver,” the words and text characters are backwards. For maps, “east” appears on the left side of the plate instead of the right as it does on the printed map.The engraving plates for a topographic map were color-separated in a set; that is, there was a plate for each color of ink to be printed. A typical topographic quadrangle map had a set of three plates: a black ink plate for cultural features, boundaries, and most of the text; a blue inked plate for hydrography; and a brown ink plate for topographic contours. The scale is 1:62,500. The last photo is an example of what a plate looks like when the engravings are filled with Titanium Dioxide and the plate framed. This example is in the USGS museum. These plates and map are suitable for framing and guaranteed original. If the USPS is used the plates and map will be carefully bubble wrapped and boxed prior to shipping. Feel Free to ask any questions. I would be happy to provide additional photos or information. {File: FFD}
Price: 1250 USD
Location: Slingerlands, New York
End Time: 2024-11-30T22:57:58.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: 15%
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Original/Reproduction: Antique Original
US State: New York
