Victorian Age prints are printed from antique letterpress electrotypes and wood engravings. During the past 25 years, prints by AJ has collected several hundred electrotypes. Victorian Age prints are the very best images from the collection. Most of these images were used in either catalogs, periodicals such as the Breeder’s Gazette, newspapers, and books before the use of photography. One electrotype in the collection actually shows the words Breeder’s Gazette on the engraving, therefore appears on the printed image.

Electrotypes originated as engravings done by the hand of a wood engraver. The wood engraving was then used to create a copy known as an electrotype. The electrotype was an exact copy of the engraving, except it was made of lead filled copper and was much better to print with. Electrotypes were mass produced from their original wood engraving and sold to print shops for multiple prints. You could refer to these as early “clip art”. Occasionally, printing was done using the original wood engraving.

Our collection of Victorian Age prints contains various farm animal prints, draft horse prints, machinery, sternwheelers and household items. The most popular Victorian Age print is the draft horse print from the Breeder’s Gazette Engraving . Two of the Victorian Age prints are printed from their original wood engravings. All Victorian Age prints are printed using 19th & 20th Century letterpress equipment.