Invention Timeline - Thomas Bewick, Englishman; Wrote “History of British Birds”
b. August 12, 1753 and d. November 8, 1828
Englishman who revived the art of engraving on wood in 1775. His best work was his “History of British Birds,” 1804. He illustrated Goldsmith’s “The Traveller” and “The Deserted Village,” the “Fables of Æsop,” and other works.
The eternal Master found
His single talent well employ’d.
—Samuel Johnson
He whose grasp is sure, whose step is firm,
Whose brain is constant-he makes one proud rock
The means to scale another, till he stand
Triumphant on the peak.
—Auchindrane
1460—Wood engraving was invented.
1460—Printing in dyes was invented.
1490—Chiaroscuro engraving was first practiced.
1789—Wood engraving was greatly improved by Bewick, his brother and his pupils.
1820—Color-printing was invented.
1823—Color-printing with metal plates in book-binding was employed by Congreve.
1843—C. Pul, of Copenhagen, invented the chemitype, a process of etching a zinc plate for printing.
1848—Chromolithography, method of printing from stone in colors, was introduced.
