Five items of printed ephemera relating to the Autotype Company Ltd: 'First Steps in Autotype Printing', 'Autotype Activities', 'Directions for the use of Autotype Cermaic Tissues', 'How it is done' and a price list. [Wengers, Ltd., Stoke-on-Trent.]

In 1868 Joseph Swan (inventor of the incandescent electric bulb) set up the company to commercialise his patented process for producing permanent photographic images. Throughout the nineteenth century it was known as the Autotype Fine Art Company, It changed its name to the Autotype Company Ltd in 1923, and is now MacDermid Autotype. All five items are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Item One dates from before the company's move from 74 to 59 New Oxford Street in 1926; and the other four items from after the move. ONE (booklet): 'First Steps in Autotype Printing | The Autotype Carbon Process'. London: The Autotype Company, 74 [amended in manuscript to '59'] New Oxford Street ('first floor'), WC1. 'Barnes & Co., Printers and Stationers, High Street, Crediton, Devon'. 23pp., 16mo. Illustrated. Stapled, in original grey printed wraps. 'In compiling this little Manual addressed to the complete novice in Autotype Printing, SIMPLICITY has been our watchword. We have endeavoured to give in plain and concise language practical instruction which, if carefully followed, will ensure successful working.' Scarce: no copies on COPAC and only four copies on OCLC WorldCat. TWO: 'List No. - 969 | Price List of Autotype | Pigment Papers, Transfer Papers and all Apparatus for the Carbon Process'. London: The Autotype Company Ltd., 59 New Oxford Street, WC1. 'Terry & Company, Ltd., Printers, 6, Hatton Garden, E.C.1.' 8pp., 12mo. Stapled. Three alterations in red ink. THREE (leaflet): 'Directions for the use of Autotype Ceramic Tissues'. London: The Autotype Co., Ltd., 59 New Oxford Street, WC1. 3pp., 16mo. Bifolium, on brown patterned paper. FOUR (leaflet): 'How It Is Done | An explanatory diagram showing the various stages in the production of Autotype Carbon Photographs'. The Autotype Company Ltd., Albion House, 59 New Oxford Street, WC1. 4pp., landscape 16mo. On shiny art paper. FIVE (flier): 'Autotype Activities'. London: The Autotype Company Ltd., 59 New Oxford Street, WC1. A list in three columns, from 'Printing and Enlarging' to 'Collodions, Retouching Medium and Leads'. At foot: 'Established over 60 years. 32 Prize Medals and Awards for Excellence of Production'. Included with the five items are: the envelope in which they were placed, with the address of Wengers, Ltd., of Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent printed in red on the flap; and another small envelope with 'WENGERS, LTD., | Manufacturers of Potters' Colors & Chemicals, | ETRURIA, | STOKE-ON-TRENT, | ENGLAND.' printed in red on the front.