NATURE-PRINTING. This is a process by which engravings or plates answering thereto are produced by taking impressions of the objects themselves, and minting twin them. There is some disaute as to the original inventor of this art; Denmark claims it for a native of Copenhagen, Peter Kyle, a goldsmith, who died about It83. leavine• the 318. description of his invention in the archives of the loyal collection of engravings in that capital. It is, however, admitted that no use was made or his invention. In i853, Alois Auer, director of the state printing establislum nt of the Austrian empire, pub lished his process, and alto some very beautiful works illustrated by this art. About the same time, in England, 31i. G. W. Aitkin made laiowit his discovery of an exactly similar process, and showed sonic very beautiful plates of Raglans, ferns, etc. But whatever other elahns may be advanced, it is certain that Alois Auer holds undisputed right to the title of original inventor and pme.ieni applier of the invention. The pro cess is very simple, as practiced by Auer; but it cannot be applied to any objects except those with tolerably flat surfaces, such as dried and pressed plants, embroidery mid lace, and a very few animal productions. The object is placed between a plate of copper and another of lead, both worked sir ooth, and politshed a they are drawn through a pair of rollers, ender considerable pressure—M. Auer says 40 to 50 tons; then, when the
plates are separated, it is found that a most beelike] and perfect impression of the object has been made in the leaden plate. This may be used directly as an eagraved plate, if only a very few impressions arc wanted; but as it is ton soft to resist the action of the press for practical purposes, a Inc-simile of ii is obtained in copper by the electro. type process, which is used as the printing-plate. The Lest practical use to which naturean•iuting has yet been applied is the multiplication of patterns of lace and other figured surfaces, either in textile materials or metals, for trade purposes. Lace-prints especially are so exactly like the originals that the most fastidious can require nothing more; hence the cutting up of valuable pieces of lace for pain ens has been saved. Henry • Bradbury, of the then existing firm of Bradbury & Evens, London, made nature-p•int ing his special study, and produced the exquisite works, Nature-printed Feria, and Nature-prin.ted Sea-Wads, in 2 vols. each (London: Bradbury & Evans).