What is a Photogravure Plate?  A photogravure plate is a copper plate upon which a photographic image has been etched. 

The photogravure process, which dates to the 1850’s, was the primary photographic ‘technology’ prior to film.  The process is rarely used today due its time-consuming complexity and, generally, the resulting photogravure print being limited to one color, usually sepia. 

Thus, the photogravure plate, today, is an example of photographic history.  For example, the Curtis photogravure plates were created between 1900 and 1930.

And, the actual printing from the photogravure plate is almost a lost art.