New Inventions of Modern Times Nova Reperta, The Invention of Copper Engraving

Nineteenth plate from a print series entitled Nova Reperta (New Inventions of Modern Times) consisting of a title page and 19 plates, engraved by Jan Collaert I, after Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus, and published by Philips Galle. Illustration of men making copper engravings. In the background men flatten copper for engraving. In the foreground on the right a man shows his engraving to a young boy. In the center 2 men prepare the engraved copper plates for printing, while a young boy creates an ink copy of a design from a copper plate. On the left several men work the press to make the engraved prints, which are then hung to dry on the racks at the back of the room.