Date: Circa 1920s
Material: Copper printing blocks, mounted on wood
History:
These printing blocks were used for printing the Newman Brothers’ trade catalogue dating from around the 1920s. These printing blocks represent four of Newman Brothers’ products: two breastplates and two backplates, which were largely in production between the late 1890s and 1920s. Although the breastplate and backplate designs went out of fashion, the handles remained in demand until Newman Brothers closed in 1998.
Copperplate printing, also known as engraved printing, uses a polished copper plate on which a design has been etched or engraved. The extreme force used in the copperplate printing process presses the paper deep into the engraved areas of the printing plate, creating an impression on the paper surface. They produce crisp, well defined images.
Newman Brothers promoted their products annually at trade shows. Perhaps the most important show was the annual exhibition of the National Association of Funeral Directors (N.A.F.D.), where suppliers to the trade showed off their wares.
These objects are in the following Themes:
