Holstentor Gate at Lubeck Germany 1934 Photogravure COA

Copperplate Photogravure Book Illustration
View of the Holstentor Gate at Lubeck (Lübeck)

Germany / Deutschland
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Offered is an original 1934 photogravure view. It is a print on paper and was published in a 1934 first edition.

Much of the old town has kept a medieval look with old buildings and narrow streets. The town once could only be entered by passing one of four town gates, of which two remain today, the well-known Holstentor (1478) and the Burgtor (1444).

Photogravure made from a photograph by Hans Retzlaff, a prominent photographer of Germany between the wars. (Photogravure process described below the illustration)

A Certificate of Authenticity will be included, along with a peel-off of the copyright information as it appears in the book from which this photogravure was removed.

Purchasers who frame their pictures frequently affix that copyright statement to the back of the frame.

Sheet size is about 9" x 11.25" (230mm x 290mm);  Printed area about 6.25" x 8.5"

Image is shown below without its full margins; and without the caption which is repeated in English, German, French, and Italian.

 About the PHOTOGRAVURE Process:

This process was developed to provide an archivally permanent way of reproducing a photographic image. Because of its high quality and richness, photogravure was used for both original fine art prints and for photo-reproduction of works from other media such as paintings. Photogravure uses a flat copperplate etched rather deeply and printed by hand.

Photogravure registers an extraordinary variety of tones, through the transfer of etching ink from an etched copperplate to special dampened paper run through an etching press. The unique tonal range comes from photogravure's variable depth of etch, that is, the shadows are etched many times deeper than the highlights. Unlike half-tone processes which merely vary the size of dots, the actual quantity and depth of ink wells are varied in a photogravure plate and are often blended into a smooth tone by the printing process.

Photogravures are a bit difficult to scan. The depth and warmth of the process is considerably more apparent in the actual print than can be seen in the scan.

CONDITION: Very Good-image is flawless: There may be printing or another illustration on the reverse of the sheet.

SHIPPING: I'm happy to combine shipping on similar items. For items such as this book plate: stated s/h for the first item and no more than $0.50 (USA & Canada) or $1.00 (International other than Canada) for each additional plate shipped at the same time.

Satisfaction Guaranteed or RETURN for any reason within 10 days for prompt refund (minus s/h).