This type of ephemera is made by removing the copper, steel or iron plates engravings, photogravures, chromolithographs or other illustrations from books. These sort of work is done by breakers -- people who break up books.
The first plate I would like to show you is taken from Richard Brimley Sheridan's SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL published ca. 1888. If gives the infamous toast that starts "Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen..."
