T206 Claude Ritchey & The Doves

[jimonym]

Hi Tim.

That does make sense. I don't know that you're right, and I don't know that I'm right. Nor do I know if you're wrong, or if I am. That's part of what makes T206s interesting.

I do think though that if the Ritchey variations were due only to Dark Blue ink levels that we'd see some kind of similar variations in the cards that came from the same sheet. Not the occasional card with slightly more or less blue, but a lot of examples of a handful of other T206s that have a lot of gradation, as we see with Ritchey. It would be interesting, for myriad reasons, if anyone could point to others.

Also, if we assume that Ritchey was printed in vertical columns, then it seems weird to me, although maybe it could be possible, that the Dark Blue ink would show such fluctuations from the bottom of the card to the top, over and over across the surface of the larger printing plate. I could see maybe the top card, or top couple, in a column not getting inked properly, but not the entire column of cards. And even if it was an ink distribution problem, wouldn't there be Ritchey cards with no dark green grass (meaning that no Dark Blue ink at all reached the paper)?

Hope that's clear. Man, it's hard to use words to describe pictures.

[Abravefan11]

Originally Posted by jimonym

And even if it was an ink distribution problem, wouldn't there be Ritchey cards with no dark green grass (meaning that no Dark Blue ink at all reached the paper)?

There could be some Ritchey's that never received the Dark Green (or Dark Blue) print run, though I've never seen one. I don't think the variations are because of an absence, but rather a lighter or heavier application of the color.

After posting about how the heavier color moves from the bottom to the top of the card last night and giving it a lot of thought I'm now wondering if it's just a resistance issue.

If the ink in the T206 process took the path of least resistance and there was a varying amount of ink used in the application, a color such as the dark green (or dark blue) would show up always on the area meant for the heaviest amount of ink, and less often for the area meant for the least amount of that color.

I haven't had the chance to look at as many examples of other T206's as I have the Ritchey but I think there are other cards that have variances but just not to the degree of the Ritchey, or with a contrast as noticeable as the Dove.

Here are a couple of Marquard Hands At Thighs that have a similar background to Ritchey with a noticeable difference in the amount of dark green (or dark blue) ink. Again not as big a variance as Ritchey.

[ethicsprof]

Interesting work,Tim.

Looking back at your initial post, I do think that your point that the
Ritchey dove card is not a definitive variation stands unswervingly.
Your point that 'in the end I think it's simply a matter of print quality,'
also is strong, although the definition of print quality may not be so simple now and may need to be fleshed out in response to the various
'speculations'/'theories' regarding multiple plates, new plates, ink distribution, resistance, etc. Admittedly, the corroborative data for these 'speculations'/
'theories' is still very much fluid and in process and very difficult to use for
fleshing out. Moving from the speculative/anecdotal to corroborative data may well require that most efficacious Zanidakean tool of the trade: survey.

best,

barry

[ethicsprof]

Interesting work,Tim.

Looking back at your initial post, I do think that your point that the
Ritchey dove card is not a definitive variation stands unswervingly.
Your point that 'in the end I think it's simply a matter of print quality,'
also is strong, although the definition of print quality may not be so simple now and may need to be fleshed out in response to the various
'speculations'/'theories' regarding multiple plates, new plates, ink distribution, resistance, etc. Admittedly, the corroborative data for these 'speculations'/
'theories' is still very much fluid and in process and very difficult to use for
fleshing out. Moving from the speculative/anecdotal to corroborative data may well require that most efficacious Zanidakean tool of the trade: survey.

best,

barry

[Abravefan11]

Thanks Barry.

I'm extremely confident that all Ritchey cards were intended to have the same design and that all of the cards I have seen show this. It's just a matter of print quality as to how prominent certain features like the Dove stand out.

Now figuring out what caused the great variance in this particular card and better understanding the printing process is another matter all together.

As with many T206 issues there is always more to be learned.