Traicté des Manières de Graver en Taille Douce

Abraham Bosse was a prolific engraver and author of several works on the arts of painting, drawing, and perspective. His treatise on the intaglio techniques, dedicated to 'Messieurs les Amateurs' of the arts of engraving and etching, contains a lengthy and detailed series of instructions touching on every aspect of engraving with a burin and etching on both hard and soft grounds. Several chapters are devoted to the preparation of the plates and the varnishes, others cover the actual techniques of engraving and etching, and the final section is devoted to printing and the construction of the press. Each process is illustrated with finely engraved plates by Bosse. The frequently reprinted and widely translated work was 'not only the first on its subject but for more than a century it remained the standard' (quoted from: Ivins, p. 75).

The book comprises the title, etched and engraved frontispiece, dedication plate, preface, avant-propos, Royal privilege, etched title, the letterpress text, and 16 etched plates (two printed twice, recto and verso).