DUCÔTÉ, Auguste (fl.1827-1841) — London
Lithographer & printer. Produced A map of Colombia, exhibiting its mountains, rivers, departments and provinces 1827, printed by The Lithographic Press of 8 Pickett Street, Strand; George Rennie, Plan & elevation of the new bridge proposed to be constructed over the River Thames at Staines 1828. Principally known for satirical prints after John Doyle and others, many published by Thomas McLean, but also produced illustrations for a wide variety of publications, including Jonas Dennis, ‘The landscape gardener’ 1835, with coloured plans; G. Rymer, ‘Scenes of London on stone’ 1834, etc. Also known for at least one trade card. A very large collection of over 450 portraits is in the National Portrait Gallery, catalogued as printed by Alfred Ducôté.
Born in France and known in full and on formal documents as Pierre Auguste Ducôté. As Auguste Ducôté he married Sarah Eliza Carlton (d.1841) at St. Marylebone 20 Jun 1826 and a son Alfred was born in 1828. In partnership with Charles Etienne Pierre Motte until the partnership was formally dissolved early in 1832. In 1832-1833 plates were lettered ‘A. Ducôté s Lithography’. He became a freemason, admitted to the Grand Stewards Lodge 10 Apr 1834. Declared bankrupt a month later (Morning Post, 31 May 1834) — this announced on the same day as the bankruptcy of the artist Filippo Pistrucci, many of whose designs were lithographed by the Ducôté business. Ducôté’s certificate was granted in August, with a dividend hearing in October, and creditors’ meeting in November. William Stephen became a partner from late 1834 to August 1835. He arrived back in London from a return visit to France 21 Jul 1837, similarly arriving in Folkestone 17 Feb 1852. Ducôté was granted a patent in July 1839 “for certain improvements in the art of printing on paper, calicoes, and silks, and other fabrics”, this amplified in December to take in “improvements in printing on china, porcelain, earthenware, paper, calicoes, silks, woollens, oil-cloths, leather, and other fabrics, and for an improved material to be used in printing”. A specification given in 1840 added, “These improvements consist in the use of stone for the purpose of giving the impression to the wares instead of copper, as at present in use, the inventor using the same compositions as employed in the trade. The inventor considers the introduction of the lithographic stone impressions better than the copper impressions, and they will render the ware much cheaper, and facilitate the operation of printing: the inventor also claims the introduction of zinc plates for taking off the impressions to be used for the wares”. Listed as Alfred Ducôté, his son’s name, at the St. Martin’s Lane address in 1840-1841. His wife and four children were recorded living in Tottenham in 1841, but she died in Hanley, Staffordshire, later that year and was buried at Shelton 5 Oct 1841 — presumably there in connection with the pottery printing patent. From 31 Dec 1840 plates from the same address were lettered ‘General Lithographic Establishment’, which remained active at the St. Martin’s Lane address until at least 1846, although Ducôté may have already returned to France. A daughter born in 1838 was baptised at Tottenham in 1843, but his place of abode was given as France. Ducôté died in Paris 3 Jun 1859. His son Alfred (1828-1904) married there in 1866.
Lithographic Press, 8 Pickett Street, Strand — 1827
Lithographic Press, 29 Bedford Street — 1828
70 St. Martin’s Lane, Charing Cross — 1831-1841
High Road, Tottenham (home) — 1841
BBTI. BM. BNA. Fincham. LG. LHD. LMA. Twyman. Wakeman & Bridson.