Three-Phase Eclipse by Bartholomew Green

Colonial AmericaColonial Woodblock Printing Plate of a Three-Phase Eclipse by Bartholomew Green

c. 1703-1774, Woodblock Printing Plates of Astronomical Images by Colonial Printers, including a Three-Phase Eclipse by Bartholomew Green & John Allen, Lot of 3, Choice Very Fine.
These woodblock printing plates 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 Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford.
1. A wonderful astronomical illustration of a three-phase eclipse, depicting a moon inscribed with a human face, set in three positions before, during and after the eclipse--indicated with a letter "B", set in the cross-hairs of concentric circles. Produced by Bartholomew Green and John Allen of Boston, completed in 1703 or 1707, as identified by a similar print noted by Reilly #1853, p. 461. It measures 2.25" x 2.75" , 3/4" thick, with a small age crack.
2. A banded moon with a pleasant crescent along the top edge, by Timothy Green, New London, 1772, similar to an image identified by Reilly as #1948, p. 478. 1.75" square, nearly 1" thick, with dark-inked surface patina, slight chipping and an age crack.
3. A crescent eclipse, by Christopher Sower, Germantown, 1774, identified by Reilly as #1957, p. 479. 1.25" square, 3/4" thick, with dark-ink surface patina, some age cracks and chipping.
Ex-Sotheby's Sale 7683, June 26, 2001. (3 items)

Bartholomew Green (1666–1732) was the son of 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. Timothy Green III (1737-1796) of New London, Connecticut, was a son of Samuel Green and nephew of Timothy II, (1703-1763) who was a printer in Connecticut and in Boston.

Christopher Sower (1721–84), was the son of German-born Christopher Sower or Sauer, (1693–1758), who came to America in 1724 and founded a printing shop in Germantown, Pa., using types imported from Germany. In 1738 he printed the first German book in America. Sower's son established in Germantown the first type foundry in America in 1772. He printed the second Sower German Bible in 1763, the third in 1776. He was a bishop of the Baptist Dunker sect and attacked slavery from the pulpit and the family newspaper. Accused of treason, Sower suffered imprisonment, abuse, and confiscation of his property as a result of clearly stating his pacifist principles during the Revolution.

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