Quote:
Originally Posted by matty39
This, I believe is an old letter press printing matte. This matte was secured in a form and molten lead was poured into the form. When cooled the solid lead block with the reverse image from the matte was placed in a form for printing. The reverse of the matte would then appear on the printed piece. Probably used in a newspaper. Very common in the pre-fifties
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That's what I was thinking. It being cardboard made me think newer, I'd be surprised if a decent block would be had from melted lead going into cardboard. Some presses used rubber plates, but I don't know when that started.
Possible, I just looked it up and the rubber plate process was around from about 1900.
Steve B