Editorial Illustration actually began before the printing press even existed. In Europe in the 1400’s artists would do woodblock illustration. When movable type became more popular illustration became easier and less costly to produce. The technique involved the artist sketching out their drawing on a piece of wood, and then they or an engraver would create a relief for print. Ink would then be applied and the wood relief would be pressed to paper or cloth. It was quite similar to the way we use a rubber stamp today.
Sir John Tenniel was an illustrator that lived in the Golden Age and is known of for using a woodblock technique. He would sketch his pieces on a woodblock and then have engravers prepare the block for printing. He was a political cartoonist, but is better known for the characters he created for Alice in Wonderland.