Lithographic stone, lithographic printing plate material

This collection was made of natural limestone and was used as a plate for lithographic printing, which was practiced from the Meiji to the Showa eras.This picture shows a sample of the Order's designs that the Printing Bureau used to print using this printing method.
Lithographic printing is a printing method that applies the repulsive properties of water and oil.First, the design is drawn on the plate with a material that fits naturally into the oil.Then, when oil-based ink is applied to the entire water-dampened plate surface, the water repels the oil, and the ink is applied only to the patterned area.This printing method was invented by Senefelder in Germany in 1798.
As lithography was no longer practiced at the Printing Bureau, many of the lithographic stones were discarded.This collection is among the materials that tell the story of the lithographic printing operations by the Printing Bureau.