Culver Military Academy Engraving Plates  

Engraving is the oldest and most common of the intaglio techniques. Lines are cut into a metal plate using a tool called burin or graver.

After the process of incising lines has been finished, the plate is inked. Then the surface of the plate is cleaned and only the ink in the incised lines is left. A dampened paper is put on the plate. With the paper being pressed firmly against the plate, it absorbs the ink left in the lines.

In the beginning copper plates were used.

This technique required a professional engraver with skills that could be acquired only in a long apprenticeship. The disadvantage of the use of copper was the limited number of impressions. Like for a woodcut, hardly more than 2000 or 3000 impressions could be obtained from one plate. This changed drastically with the invention of steel plates Thomas Lupton in 1822. Now the number of impressions was nearly unlimited.

It is assumed all or most of the press blocks weighed 0.41 lb. and measured1 1/4" tall by 2 5/16" wide by 1/2" deep.