Table II: Order of Woodcuts
Though most title-blocks pass through various stages of recutting or
deterioration, this account records only those states which fix the
chronology of certain reprints. Except for state bi the dates
cited
below represent the period used in first editions.
Order |
Dates |
Description |
a |
1731 Jan-Aug |
No block, title completely in letterpress. |
b |
1731 Sept-1732 Apr, June-Sept |
Block, two figures in archway, small circle before right
door. |
b1
|
?1731 Oct- |
Upper part of towers gouged. Reused only for late reprintings of
the May, Sept, Dec 1731 numbers. |
c |
1732 May, Oct-Nov |
Cut with more cross-hatching, no circle before right door. This
block is more easily distinguished by the line immediately below it, now
with broken n in Monthly. |
d |
1732 Dec-1733 Apr; 1733 Aug-1741 Apr |
Dog with long curled tail, two figures in archway. As in
c a broken n below cut. In May 1734 the n is replaced with
perfect letter; in Jan 1736 the entire line is deleted. |
e |
1733 May-July; 1734 Sept-1746 Mar |
Equestrian figure in center. Beginning in 1734 this is used
interchangeably with d or as the alternate cut in a duplicate
setting. |
e1
|
1746 Apr-1751 Nov |
Top of left tower broken off. |
e2
|
1751 Dec-1753 Feb |
Lower corner left tower also broken off. |
f |
1753 Mar-1764 Sept |
Female, long robed, in center. |
g |
1764 Oct-1767 June; 1782 Nov-1790 June |
Dog with short perpendicular tail, two figures in archway. Within
the later period the number for April 1783 was issued without
block. |
h |
1767 July-1768 Feb |
Man with wheelbarrow, woman to the side. |
h1
|
1768 Mar-1778 Sept; 1779 July-1781 July |
Across block a diagonal break, touching wheel of barrow. |
h2
|
1781 Aug-1782 Oct |
Second break, cutting across left window. |
i |
1778 Oct-1779 June |
Wagon, four pedestrians, and dog. Eventually superseded by two
old cuts, first h
1-2, then
g. |