Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is a beautifully preserved industrial printing block featuring a majestic American eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows, with a blank banner designed to hold custom letterpress type. It is a copper-faced electrotype plate mounted on a heavy wood block, used in the letterpress printing industry to produce high-quality, crisp illustrations for newspapers, letterheads, or official documents.
Story
In the early 1900s, Buffalo, New York was a booming industrial hub where the Lyman Electrotype Company mastered the art of duplicating intricate engravings. This eagle block was a versatile workhorse, allowing local printers to insert custom text into the blank banner for patriotic stationery or local events.
Maker / Origin
The Lyman Electrotype Company operated in Buffalo, NY, during the golden age of American letterpress printing. Electrotyping was a highly technical process that used electricity to deposit a thin shell of copper onto a wax mold of an engraving, which was then backed with lead and mounted on wood to create an incredibly durable printing surface.
Condition & Value
The block is in excellent vintage condition. The copper printing surface shows minimal wear, with no deep scratches or major dents that would affect an impression. The wood block is solid with typical ink staining from historical use, which adds to its authentic character. Excellent preservation of the fine details.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.