The Sheep of His Pasture (1828).

Etching, 1 11/16" x 3 3/16".

2nd state. From "A Memoir of Edward Calvert" (edition of 350)

Only a few impressions of these works were printed during Calvert's lifetime. However, ten years after his death, his son Samuel Calvert published a large volume entitled "A Memoir of Edward Calvert, Artist, by his Third Son" in a limited edition of 350 copies. Samuel had the original engraved wood blocks and copper plates, and these were used to print the eight wood engravings and two copper etchings included in the volume.

Ideal Pastoral Life (1829).

Lithograph, 1 5/8" x 3", only state.

From the "Carfax Portfolio" (edition of 30)

With regard to the lithographs, the stones used to print them (under Calvert's supervision) had been ground down. Thus Samuel had to make plates by a photographic process for the two lithographs included in the Memoir; they are reproductions. Subsequently, a cache of 35 each of the original two lithographs was discovered. Thirty of each of the two lithographs were used along with new printings of the 8 wood engravings and 2 copper etchings to form a set known as the "Carfax Portfolio". Aside from a few isolated impressions, this is the only source of the actual lithographs, such as the one shown here.

The Brook (1829).

Wood engraving, 2" x 3 7/16", on laid India paper.

From the "Carfax Portfolio" (edition of 30)

The wood-engravings, such as "The Brook", shown above, were first published in 1893 in the "Memoir". They were printed on a thick wove paper of brownish tint. These impressions were not considered satisfactory, at least in comparison with the lifetime impressions printed by Calvert. Thus for the Carfax portfolio of 1904, fresh impressions were printed from the original wood blocks on a finer India paper laid down on large (16" x 12") sheets of cartridge paper. While the Carfax impressions are often said to be finer than those in the Memoir, the difference in sharpness is not great -- but the Carfax impressions are more pleasing due to the color of the paper. Neither the Memoir nor the Carfax impressions are as good as those printed by Calvert, such as "The Lady and the Rooks" shown above. For the sake of comparison, below is an impression of "The Brook" from my copy of the Memoir.

The Brook (1829).

Wood engraving, 2" x 3 7/16"

From the "Memoir" (edition of 350)