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Went to a church rummage sale last night and went “all in” on a box of vintage litho-sketch inks. I spent $1 lol. It’s a pretty large box, and the inks are still sealed inside their ancient “Anthony Ensink” boxes. I pierced the seal on one and ink came right out so these have survived the years intact. There are some other random litho ink supplies in the box as well. I can find nothing else like this on Ebay, so I’m at a loss as to whether or not to lot it up or to sell it individually. What little I can find on this brand lists this guy as the originator of this type of printing, and the stuff went off the market and then eventually came back under another brand. I have a feeling this might be sought-after stuff…the colors on the tubes vary which is why I was leaning towards individual. There are 23 brand-new ink tubes still in boxes in this box, all from this same brand.
Lotted up or individually-listed, I’m thinking insane BIN with “make offer” is the way to go. I’d consider auction also if that would make more sense.
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Here you go.. follow this link and the info. it provides.
http://www.graphicchemical.com/lithography07.pdf
I have done stone lithography before, mostly in under gradute school, and printmaking is my major and career specialty.
The inks are used just like litho crayons to draw on the prepared stone surface. But unlike the litho crayons which are stiffer and in a pencil like format, these are looser, more fluid in there consistency and used to cover broader areas faster and are “brushable”. There are also other competitive brands out there. Some litho “inks” are what are actually used to “ink” the stone once the image has been gum and acid etched into the metal plate or stone surface.
May I suggest you do a little research on hand done stone lithography to get an idea of the process and you will also discover the other brands of litho inks and that in turn will help you get an idea on pricing.
BTW.. learning how to recognize “real” hand done litho’s and silk screen prints will help you in your selections of what to purchase as fine art prints when out in the field buying. It is a world of difference between real hand done, stone lithography and commercial offset lithography done on photo plates and printing done on high speed presses. both in quality and in prices.
Mike at MDC Galleries and Fine Art in Atlanta
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Thanks Mike! That was actually the one link I’d read last night…too funny! Do you think there would be real demand for this vintage litho ink or not since there are competitive brands now? Also, do think artists would prefer to buy a lot of this as opposed to buying individual tubes?
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Stone lithography is a fairly dying art except in art schools and fine art ateliers. The techniques are old, very labor intensive, require lots of floor space in an art school. The stones are very limited now and hard to acquire. They have to be quarried out of limestone pits. They weight ton and need lift jacks or fork lifts to move around.
Due to these restrictions and the fact most students are now producing work digitally and the print method of fine art choice is a large format ink jet printer and making Giclee print on demand prints, I think the market would be pretty limited. Maybe a collector of old letter press type of stuff or old etching stuff maybe. The art schools will buy fresh ink from vendor-suppliers and stock it in their school art supply stores.
So, I don’t see these being much in use and someone needing a “fill in color” to add to an existing set. I would try listing as a lot and see what happens. Also that creates just one listing for you.
I had a set of grumbacker pastel about two years ago and Listings the complete set and it sold within a few months for $125, I think, I recall. Also you are unsure of the condition of the inks down inside the tube to know if it is even usuable as a functioning color.
Good luck with it.
Mike at MDCG in Atl.
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