Colonial America
WOODBLOCK PRINTING PLATES & IMAGES
Woodblock Printing Plates were used for a variety of purposes in the colonial era, including religious ornamentation (especially in early New England), government printing, advertising, and in almanacs. They were also prominently featured in broadsides. Woodblock plates were often traded, sold, or shared by different printers and printing shops, and represent the earliest examples of American graphic art--truly a reflection of the tastes and skills of colonial American craftsmen. They were the "high technology" of the era--more affordable than metal plates, and easily shared for a variety of uses. Many were cut by the printer himself or by one of his employees. Others were the work of artists hired by the printer to illustrate the text. We offer colonial printing plates which are quite valuable and unique because they represent the social, political and religious thought and activity of this important period in American history. These attractive, historic artifacts reflect the hopes, fears, dreams, and religious and revolutionary fervor that characterized the colonial era.
Following is an assortment of original images and woodblock printing plates from the colonial period--many of which are identified in Reilly, "Colonial American Printers" (1975). The assortment is an extraordinary cross-section of unique items that are over 200 years old, and growing in value every day!
Woodblock Printing Plates by Green, Bradford, Holt & Other Colonial Printers, c. 1701-1756, Lot of 3, Choice Very Fine.
These woodblock printing plate images depict astronomical events, and served as illustrations for almanacs of the period, as indicated by Elizabeth Reilly in "Colonial American Printers' Ornaments & Illustrations" (1975). Each of these woodblocks were used to create illustrations similar to those reproduced in Reilly's book--the original colonial prints, almanacs or pamphlets are housed at collections of the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, and the Henry E. Huntington Library in San Marino.
1. Partial moon eclipse with inscribed eyes, nose, and smiling mouth, Reilly #1918, p. 474, by Bartholomew Green and John Allen, Boston, 1701. 3/4" round, 1" thick, clean surface; paper slip with typed notation identifying similar image found in Reilly is affixed to its side.
2. A crescent on a dark moon with inscribed bands, Reilly #1947, p. 477, by Andrew Bradford, Philadelphia, 1738. It measures 1.25" square, 3/4" thick, with dark inked surface patina.
3. Smaller moon eclipsed against a larger sun, with a light-rimmed border, Reilly #1960, p. 479, by James Parker, John Holt, and Thomas Green, New Haven, 1756. 1" x 1", 3/4" thick, with dark inked surface patina, and typed notation with Reilly references affixed to the bottom of the woodblock.
Ex-Sotheby's Sale 7683, June 26, 2001. (3 items)
Bartholomew Green (1666–1732) was the son of colonial printer Samuel Green. He inherited his father's press in Cambridge in 1692 and moved it to Boston. He had the patronage of the government and of Harvard and became the foremost printer in New England. Except for four years Green printed the Boston News-Letter, the first American newspaper, from its inception in 1704 until his death. In 1722 he became its publisher also. His son-in-law, John Draper, succeeded to the News-Letter.
Andrew Bradford (1686-1742) was one of the sons of William Bradford, (1663–1752), a British pioneer printer in the American colonies who emigrated to Philadelphia and set up the first press in 1685.
James Parker (1714-1770) established the first permanent press in New Jersey in 1754. Parker served an apprenticeship under William Bradford in New York but "ran away" before his service was up. For a while, he took refuge under Ben Franklin's roof in Philadelphia. He was New York's public printer from 1744-1752, which gave him all the government publications printing jobs. In 1753 he entered a partnership with his former employee, William Weyman, in New York. In 1758 Parker was given the title Government Printer for New Jersey, and later King's Printer for New Jersey, a title he held until his death in 1770.
John Holt (1721-1784) edited the first Whig newspaper published in New York City, and managed it with considerable ability and courage. In 1774 Holt discarded the king's arms from the heading of his paper, substituting the design of a serpent cut in pieces, with the expressive motto, "Unite or die." In January, 1775, the snake w as untied and coiled with the tail in its mouth, forming a double ring.
WOODBLOCK PRINTING PLATES & IMAGES
Woodblock Printing Plates were used for a variety of purposes in the colonial era, including religious ornamentation (especially in early New England), government printing, advertising, and in almanacs. They were also prominently featured in broadsides. Woodblock plates were often traded, sold, or shared by different printers and printing shops, and represent the earliest examples of American graphic art--truly a reflection of the tastes and skills of colonial American craftsmen. They were the "high technology" of the era--more affordable than metal plates, and easily shared for a variety of uses. Many were cut by the printer himself or by one of his employees. Others were the work of artists hired by the printer to illustrate the text. We offer colonial printing plates which are quite valuable and unique because they represent the social, political and religious thought and activity of this important period in American history. These attractive, historic artifacts reflect the hopes, fears, dreams, and religious and revolutionary fervor that characterized the colonial era.
Following is an assortment of original images and woodblock printing plates from the colonial period--many of which are identified in Reilly, "Colonial American Printers" (1975). The assortment is an extraordinary cross-section of unique items that are over 200 years old, and growing in value every day!
Woodblock Printing Plates by Green, Bradford, Holt & Other Colonial Printers, c. 1701-1756, Lot of 3, Choice Very Fine.
These woodblock printing plate images depict astronomical events, and served as illustrations for almanacs of the period, as indicated by Elizabeth Reilly in "Colonial American Printers' Ornaments & Illustrations" (1975). Each of these woodblocks were used to create illustrations similar to those reproduced in Reilly's book--the original colonial prints, almanacs or pamphlets are housed at collections of the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, and the Henry E. Huntington Library in San Marino.
1. Partial moon eclipse with inscribed eyes, nose, and smiling mouth, Reilly #1918, p. 474, by Bartholomew Green and John Allen, Boston, 1701. 3/4" round, 1" thick, clean surface; paper slip with typed notation identifying similar image found in Reilly is affixed to its side.
2. A crescent on a dark moon with inscribed bands, Reilly #1947, p. 477, by Andrew Bradford, Philadelphia, 1738. It measures 1.25" square, 3/4" thick, with dark inked surface patina.
3. Smaller moon eclipsed against a larger sun, with a light-rimmed border, Reilly #1960, p. 479, by James Parker, John Holt, and Thomas Green, New Haven, 1756. 1" x 1", 3/4" thick, with dark inked surface patina, and typed notation with Reilly references affixed to the bottom of the woodblock.
Ex-Sotheby's Sale 7683, June 26, 2001. (3 items)
Bartholomew Green (1666–1732) was the son of colonial printer Samuel Green. He inherited his father's press in Cambridge in 1692 and moved it to Boston. He had the patronage of the government and of Harvard and became the foremost printer in New England. Except for four years Green printed the Boston News-Letter, the first American newspaper, from its inception in 1704 until his death. In 1722 he became its publisher also. His son-in-law, John Draper, succeeded to the News-Letter.
Andrew Bradford (1686-1742) was one of the sons of William Bradford, (1663–1752), a British pioneer printer in the American colonies who emigrated to Philadelphia and set up the first press in 1685.
James Parker (1714-1770) established the first permanent press in New Jersey in 1754. Parker served an apprenticeship under William Bradford in New York but "ran away" before his service was up. For a while, he took refuge under Ben Franklin's roof in Philadelphia. He was New York's public printer from 1744-1752, which gave him all the government publications printing jobs. In 1753 he entered a partnership with his former employee, William Weyman, in New York. In 1758 Parker was given the title Government Printer for New Jersey, and later King's Printer for New Jersey, a title he held until his death in 1770.
John Holt (1721-1784) edited the first Whig newspaper published in New York City, and managed it with considerable ability and courage. In 1774 Holt discarded the king's arms from the heading of his paper, substituting the design of a serpent cut in pieces, with the expressive motto, "Unite or die." In January, 1775, the snake w as untied and coiled with the tail in its mouth, forming a double ring.
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Auction details
Coins-Currency-Autographs-Americana
9:00 AM PT - May 15th, 2008
offered by
Early American
P.O. Box 3507
Rancho Santa Fe CA 92067
Rancho Santa Fe CA 92067
