Printing on Antique Prints and What It Means

As you look at the prints you have collected, you may have wondered what some of the mysterious words and letters below the image mean.  Very often the abbreviations used are in Latin or in words that no longer are in use.
 
The more common abbreviations you will see on antique prints are:
 a.f.,aq., aquaforti.  These mean "aquaforti" in Latin which is nitric acid.  This was used to etch metal printing plates, so the print is considered an etching rather than an engraving.
 del., delineavit.  This is Latin for he/she/they drew.  The name following it will be the artists who did the drawing that the engraving reproduces.
 exc., excudit, eng., or engd.  This means engraved and the name following is obviously the engraver.
 f., fec., fect., fac., or faciebat.  These all mean "made" and is used when the person who drew the original image also printed it.
 imp., impressit.  This means printed by and is often found below the title of the print.
 imp. lith.  This means printed on a lithographic (stone) press and the print is considered a lithograph and not an engraving.
 inc. incidebat, incidit.  The meaning is "incised" and refers to the engraver of the engraving.
 pinx., pinxit, ping.  This means "painted" and the name following will be that of the artist of the original painting from which the print was reproduced.  (del. Pinx. Sometimes denotes the hand-colorist).
 sculp., sculpt.  This term means engraved by and it usually follows the engravers name and is found on the bottom right-hand side.