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THREE Colonial Woodblock Printing Plates by B. Green, T. Green, + Chris. Sower!

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
THREE Colonial Woodblock Printing Plates by B. Green, T. Green, + Chris. Sower!
Colonial America
Three Exceptional & Rare Early Colonial Hand-Engraved Woodblock Printing Plates of a Three-Phase Eclipse by Bartholomew Green & John Allen of Boston, plus Timothy Green of New London, Connecticut, and Christopher Sower of Germantown, Pennsylvania Circa 1703-1774
c. 1703-1774 Early Colonial America, Collection of Three Hand-Engraved Woodblock Printing Plates of Astronomical Images by Colonial Printers, including a Three-Phase Eclipse by Bartholomew Green & John Allen of Boston MA. (c. 1703); Timothy Green, New London CT. (c. 1772); and by Christopher Sower, Germantown PA. (c. 1774), Lot of (3) Woodblocks, Choice Very Fine.
This is a highly important collection of Three (3) exceedingly rare early American Hand-Engraved Woodblock Printing Plates which depict various Astronomical Events, and served for illustration purposes in Almanacs of the Colonial period. Such use is indicated by Elizabeth Reilly in her reference book titled, “Colonial American Printers’ Ornaments & Illustrations” (1975). Each of these three different Woodblocks were used to create printed illustrations similar to those reproduced in Reilly’s book, for which the original Colonial prints, almanacs or pamphlets are housed at collections of the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, Massachusetts and in the Connecticut Historical Society at Hartford. The Three current examples include:

1. Woodblock Astronomical Illustration of a “Three-phase Eclipse, depicting the 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. Woodblock depicting 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. Woodblock depicting 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.

Each Woodblock is provided with a small reprinted copy of its printed illustration appearance and other information. Provenance: All 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.