Mr. J. (or S) Springsguth’s coloured etchings (1833) let you see what a variety of fossilised madrepores actually feels like.

J. Springsguth, Printmaker (sometimes signs his prints S. Springsguth, Junior).
“J” would probably have looked a bit like this.

Time has so nearly erased the biography of J. Springsguth that beyond that wonderful name there’s virtually nothing. “J” is John or Joseph. Perhaps.

The British Museum who hold 73 of his etchings does have a bio of sort for the obscure B-list etcher: “Printmaker; sometimes signs his prints S. Springsguth, Junior”.

That’s it. So what of the trace he did leave, his work?

Most of the time, “J” scratched and scraped out fairly run of the mill etchings to be frank; “Entrance of James I into England”, “A Shipwreck”, “South East View of the Nunnery of St Helen” etc., etc.. He also churned out those small oval portraits of the men of the day. Wallpaper.

“J” however, did leave behind something fascinating. In 1833, he produced a series of wonderfully coloured, spookily tactile etchings. Fossils of all varieties that we can almost reach out and touch.

We really don’t need to touch them, thanks to Mr. Springsguth, we can still see how they felt.

A variety of fossilised madrepores and other organic remains. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
Eleven different fossilised remains of plants in schistose stones. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
A variety of madrepores. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
Ten different fossilised remains of plants in schistose stones. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
A variety of madrepores. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
Fossilised organic remains on stones. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
The skeletal remains of a stag’s antlers and cross-sections of its parts. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
A variety of madrepores and fossils. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
A variety of madrepores. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
Seven different fossilised remains of plants in schistose stones. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
A variety of madrepores and fossils. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
A variety of madrepores. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
The skeleton of a mammal and some of its molars and fangs. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
A variety of madrepores and fossils. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.
Bones and teeth of mammals. Coloured etching by S. Springsguth. 1833.
Wellcome Collection.

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