Lot 1029 email save

Colonial WOODBLOCK Printing Plates, c. 1721-56

Sign In to see what this sold for

Colonial America

---

Three Woodblock Printing Plates of Astronomical Images by the Early Colonial Printers Sower and Bradford

c. 1721-1756, Lot of 3, Woodblock Printing Plates of Astronomical Images by Colonial Printers, Sower & Bradford Families, 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 colonial prints, almanacs or pamphlets are housed at the American Antiquarian Society. William Bradford and Christopher Sower both headed significant printing families in the colonial era, and these woodblocks are examples of the important work they did prior to the Revolutionary War!
1. A dark moon with inscribed eyes, nose, mouth and sunray beard, by Andrew Bradford, Philadelphia, 1721 or William Bradford, New York, 1722, as identified as Reilly #1912, p. 473. It measures 1.5" x 1.5" x 1" thick, with dark-inked surface patina.
2. The images of a complete eclipse with thin light rim along the circumference, by Christopher Sower, Germantown, 1753, Reilly #1964, p. 480, measuring 1.25" x 1.25", 1" thick, dark-ink patina, with a small crack along the surface.
3. A large crescent eclipse, by Christopher Sower, Germantown, 1756, Reilly #1951, p. 478, measuring 1.5" x 1.5", 1" thick, with dark patina, and an age crack.
Ex-Sotheby's Sale 7683, June 26, 2001. (3 items)

William Bradford (1663–1752) was a British pioneer printer in the American colonies who emigrated to Philadelphia and set up the first press in 1685. In 1690 he was a founder of the first paper mill in the colonies. Bradford moved to New York City (c. 1693) where he became royal printer and issued some 400 items over the next 50 years, including the first American Book of Common Prayer (1710), some of the earliest American almanacs and many pamphlets and political writings. In 1725 he founded the New York Gazette, the first New York newspaper. Many of his descendants, including Andrew Bradford and William Bradford, became printers.

Christopher Sower or Sauer, (1693–1758), was born in Germany and came to America in 1724. In 1738 he founded a printing shop in Germantown, Pa., using types imported from Germany. In 1738 he printed the first German book in America. In the same year he established the first German periodical in America, at first a quarterly, later a monthly. In 1743 he printed a German Bible, the second Bible printed in America (the first was the Bible translated into "the Indian Language" in 1663 by John Eliot).

Early American will accept payment by check or credit card.

View Early American next auction.

Similar lots up for auction