illustration 39
39. William Blake, America a Prophecy copy H, plate10. Relief etching, 23.5 x 16.7 cm., etched 1793, printed 1793. British Museum. Detail of bottom right corner, showing droplets of ink spilling over into margin (similar to that seen in some color prints) and white space between relief areas and shallows that were accidentally inked. The fine white line at the bottom is the sharp edge of the plate and the ink below the line is from the side of the plate, which was picked up either because the paper was especially damp and supple or the printing pressure was substantial enough to force the paper around the side of the plate.