Dalziel Brothers, “The Spirit of Eld”, 1863

Dalziel Brothers (aka Brothers Dalziel; Camden Press; Dalziel and Co.) (1839–1905)

“The Spirit of Eld” (aka “He followed them through the fire, and not one of the hairs of his head was singed”), 1863, wood engraving after the design by Thomas Morten (1836–1866), published in 1863 in London by Alexander Strahan (aka Strahan & Co.) (1833–1918) and printed by Bradbury & Co (aka Bradbury & Evans; Bradbury, Agnew & Co.) (1828–1900) as an illustration facing page 629 (and later page 621) to “Good Words for1863”, edited by Norman Macleod. See the description of the publication offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1992-0406-206-c.

Regarding the engravings in “Good Words for 1863”, the British Museum proposes that as “the plates are separate from the text throughout”: “This may mean that Bradbury and Evans or Dalziel Brothers have used electrotypes to reproduce the original wood engravings” (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1992-0406-206-c). This idea is not advanced by the MET museum (see https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/647389.) Based on a different copy of this engraving from “Good Words for 1863” in my collection, I can see that the printing plate developed a crack that shows in later impressions (see the detail in the images), suggesting that the original engraved wood plates were indeed used in the publication.

Wood engraving on fine wove paper with letterpress text below the image, backed by a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 23.4 x 16.2 cm; (image borderline) 18.3 x 11.6 cm.

Inscribed in plate/block: (lower left corner) “Dalziel”.

Letterpress text below the image: “He followed them through the fire, and not one of the hairs of his head was singed.” [Daniel 3:27]

Condition: a strong and well-printed early impression (before the printing plate developed fractures). Beyond minor breaks in the lower margin the sheet is in an excellent condition with holes, folds, abrasions or no significant stains and is laid upon a support sheet of archival/millennium quality washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this very beautiful wood engraving showing the highest order of skill in the cutting of the plate for the total cost of AU$166 (currently US$108.19/EUR100.04/GBP85.87 at the time of posting this print) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing wood engraving—mindful that each black line is carved in relief to stand “proud” on the printing plate—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.