[f. Gr. αὐτο- (see AUTO-) self + τύμος type, impress, print, f. τυμ- to strike, after prototype, etc.]
1. A type of the thing itself, a true impress of the original; a reproduction in facsimile.
1853. Kingsley, Misc., I. 299. The utterance must be the outward and visible autotype, of the spirit which animates it.
1880. Swinburne, Stud. Shaks., iii. 202. The type of Angelo an autotype of the huge national vice of England.
2. A process of permanent photographic printing, which reproduces photographs or works of art in monochrome; a facsimile produced by this process. Also attrib. or as adj.
1869. Pall Mall Gaz., Supp. 20 Dec., 1. It is illustrated with autotype and other photographs after engravings.
1878. Prospectus of the Autotype Company. The public need no longer be content with fading photographs; ask for Autotypes or Chromotypes.
1881. Athenæum, 16 April, 521/2. These days of autotype and heliogravure.