Alois Senefelder
inventor of lithography, 1771-1834
Johann Alois Senefelder was a German actor and playwright who invented the printing technique of lithography in the 1790s. Senefelder experimented with a novel etching technique using a greasy, acid resistant ink as a resist on a smooth fine-grained stone. He then discovered that this could be extended to allow printing from the flat surface of the stone alone, the first planographic process in printing. He joined with the André family of music publishers and gradually brought his technique into a workable form. With the composer Franz Gleißner he started a publishing firm in 1796 using lithography. The value of the new cheap and exact reproduction process was recognized across Europe.
Source: Wikipedia
Schauspieler, Schriftsteller und Erfinder der Lithographie (1771-1834). Autograph letter signed in the first line ("M. Senefelder"). Paris. 20.10.1820. ½ S. auf Doppelblatt. 8vo. Mit eh. Adresse.
$ 6,941 / 6.500 €
(44955/BN31001)
To the great naturalist Georges Cuvier, the "founding father of paleontology", asking him to forgive his being unable to visit him and show his lithographs on Sunday, inviting him to view them on Monday instead: "M. Senefelder témoigne ses vives regrets à Monsieur le Baron de Cuvier de ne pouvoir venir dimanche 22 c[ouran]t pour l'expérience des cartons lithogr[aphiques]; il aura l'honneur de se présenter Lundi prochain à l'heure indiquée". - Small flaw to the counter-leaf from opening the seal (no loss to text).