THE PROCESS OF MAKING CHINA

(WORCESTER CHINA)  THE PROCESS OF MAKING CHINA.                

London: J. & E. Wallis, 1815. Square 12mo. Publishers printed wrappers, stitched, encased in later half-morocco box. Engraved frontispiece, 14, (2) pages, 11 engraved plates. Third edition.

Scarce item in any edition, with only two copies of the first edition recorded at Princeton and the Morgan Library in New York; and two copies of the second edition at the University of Toronto and the Victoria & Albert, but no copies of this third edition on OCLC.  "Illustrated with twelve engravings, descriptive of the works of the Royal China Manufactory, Worcester. for the information of the youth."  The work describes the process of making china at the Worcester factory copiously illustrating each of the manufacturing stages.  The booklet was probably promoted by the factory owners as the last pages cannot help but advertise their history or production methods.  The original company confined themselves to making blue and white ware, and the ingenious method of transferring the impressions from copper-plates upon the interior articles was their invention: but the present proprietress have not only improved the strength and color of the ware, but have given the most liberal encouragement to ingenious painters in emblematic composition and in landscape. The writer even contrasts their China as "so great as to rival the royal China manufactories of the French, who for many years exported to this country."  Small hole to half-title, one plate torn loose; tear touching image and inscription.  Overall only a little browned and clean.

 

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