What Printing Process Was Used?

Does anyone know what printing process was used to print the Pamela A?

Does Jensen's book address this?

Thanks-

Abrac

EtA: I understand that according to Pamela's letter they were to be printed by color lithography. But from what I have read there are different kinds of color lithography. Chromolithography is one example which was very popular in the second half of the 19th century. From what I understand about this type of lithography, the images it produces are garrish and not very attractive. Whatever process was used on the Pam A, it looks pretty good to me.

Beginning early in the 20th century, photographic half-tone reproduction processes, as well as the introduction of four-colour presses, replaced lithography in the commercial printing industry.

Click on: Article here quoted

Half-tone colour printing, which is still the standard method of print reproduction, involves the breaking-up of images into dots by photographing them through screens that produces between 50 and 150 or more dots, or "lines," per inch. The dot pattern is exposed, or "burned," onto a printing plate, metal for longer press runs or even paper for very short, low-quality ones. The basic, four-colour, process combines cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow, and black inks into a full range of colours by running the paper through a printing press four times, one colour per impression, or once through a linked series of four presses.

I'm pretty sure that the RWS deck was first produced with chromo-lithography. Posters of the period also used this technique. You can see an animated example at:
http://www.artchive.com/lautrec/poster.html
and details of the process at:
http://www.cigarlabelart.com/story_of_cigar_label_art.htm

The 1912 Encyclopedia Britannica has an excellent article on commercial lithography of the period. Articles about "art" lithography will not give you any idea of the sophistication achieved in the commercial field.

Examples of the early decks clearly show hand stippling, lines, and crosshatching used to create a variety of tones. You can see how different these "half-tones" are in the Pamela A, B, C and D decks at:
http://home.comcast.net/~vilex/SunComparison/main-Sun.html
and in the color section of Frank Jensen's book - especially with the Lovers card details.
However, be aware if looking at Jensen's book that the images are reproduced with modern dot screens superimposed on the original screening technique. Don't get mixed up by this.

Note: Pamela C is probably a photo-reproduction of copy of B.

Mary

chromolithography printing process was the first colour printing process which I believe where done by hand. Printing has come along way since then in a short timeframe.

Thank you Mary for an interesting article

Pix