De Malander-Rynvaen, Imprimeur - Librairie a Renaix.
Belgium, (ca. 1840-1860). 7 x 4 1/2. Printed in blue with a gold frame on enameled card stock. The central image shows a classical figure being drawn by a cherub; to the right, a large handpress is surrounded by books. Removed from an album, else fine. Item #19043
Carte Porcelaine was prized for trade cards, & calling cards, Champagne & wine labels, menus, announcements, and invitations. Collecting these porcelain cards was a popular 19th c. pastime. Stationers sold cards and the Albums created for them. Most cards on the market today were removed from albums a long time ago.
Many cards were printed in blue ink, then varnished and dusted with metallic powders (silver, bronze, & gold). Multi-colored cards were printed from multiple stones.
These chromolithographed cards were produced largely from 1840-1860. Printed on card stock coated with white lead, they appeared to be enameled like porcelain. Michael Twyman writes "This white lead coating was subject to pressure from steel cylinders at the final stage of manufacture, which gave it a sheen and also ensured a perfectly smooth printing surface" allowing lithographic printers "to produce extremely intricate work, which they did by turning to the process of engraving on stone.” Porcelain paper was abolished in the 1860s as the process was toxic.
A History of Chromolithography, p. 422. The Olin card is illustrated on p. 423.
Price: $120.00