Henry Bradbury

“ Experiments to print direct from nature were made as far back as about 250 years—it is certain that the present success of the art is mainly attributable to the general advance of science and the perfection to which it has been brought in particular instances. On account of the great expense attending the production of wood cuts of plants in early times, many naturalists suggested the possibility of making direct use of Nature herself as a copyist. ”

“ In the year 1809 mention is made in Pritzell's 'Thesaurus' of a new method of taking natural Impressions of Plants; and lastly, in reference to the earlier history of the subject, the attention of scientific men was called to an article, in a work published by Grazer, in 1814, on a 'New Impression of Plants.' Twenty years afterwards, the subject had undergone remarkable change, not only in the mode of operation to be pursued, but also in the result produced,—which consisted in fixing an impression of the prepared plant in a plate of metal by pressure. ”

“ Thiele, that Peter Kyhl, a Danish goldsmith and engraver, established at Copenhagen, applied, himself for a length of time to the ornamentation of articles in silver ware, and the means he adopted were, taking copies of flat objects of nature and art in plates of metal by means of two steel rollers. ”