George Baxter 1804 - 1867
George Baxter was an artist and a printer who is credited with creating the first commercially viable color printing process. His process, patented in 1835 used both intaglio and relief methods of printing.
Jenny Deans’ Interview With the Queen
Printed in oil colours by G. Baxter from a painting by Mrs. Seyffarth (circa 1837)
Intaglio printing involves creating an etching where the ink to be transferred is held in the sunken areas of the plate. Relief printing is the opposite, where the ink is on the raised portions of the material. Baxter’s method combined both techniques, using up to 24 colors for each print.
A sheet of 10 prints depicting royal life for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Circa 1851
Baxter is estimated to have created over 20 million prints. The process was labor intensive, and he was demanding in the quality of his output, even hand coloring some of his prints.
Verona - (Circa 1837)
From a painting by Samuel Prout
Beginning in 1849, Baxter licensed his process for other printers to use. Although his technique made the viewing of color prints possible to a wide audience, he didn’t profit extensively from his work. He offered all of his stock and equipment for sale in 1860, and declared bankruptcy in 1865.
Despite this, his vivid prints continue to be cherished by collectors the world over.
Returning From the Spring
Printed in oil colors by Bradshaw and Blackstock - Manchester
Licensees by Baxter’s Patent