Buchanan and Breckenridge Printers block?? Cant find anything like it?!

cumberlandgray

Jr. Member
Nov 24, 2009
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Buchanan and Breckenridge Printers block?? Can't find anything like it?!

Hey guys! I don't post alot here, but the friend with whom I was digging today suggested I post this:
We were digging a Confederate camp that seems to be early war. My buddy managed a really sweet Va button. A couple hours later I got a sweet +74 on the MXT. Thinking it was a penny (the sound made it seem like it was about 2" down), I went to digging. There were no house sites in the area, and this was an isolated signal in the middle of some really old hardwoods. I'd dug a couple nails close by also. I got down to 4" and realized this was not the 2" Penny I thought it was gonna be. I kept on going, and at about 6" I turned over this plate. It seems to be a stamp, since everything is spelled backwards. I believe it is made of pewter...not positive, but I think so.
It measures 56mm X 45mm and is 4mm thick (about 2 1/8" X 1 3/4").
On the face is "The Constitution", and near the top it states "Buchanan" and "Breckenridge". Buchanan was our 15th President, and Breckenridge was his Vice Pres.
Any help with ID on this object will be greatly appreciated! So far no one knows what it is, or has ever seen one before!
Thanks for looking!
Tony "cumberlandgray" Hochstetler
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

Just a guess...
It's obviously in reverse..like an ink stamp...on the back it looks like two hole marks where a handle of sorts may have been.
Good Luck,
Cap Z.
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

Wow that is cool. It looks to be a print block Maybe for a newspaper or something. You might have a valuable find there. WTG. :thumbsup:
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

I've heard of items like you found. The last gentleman/women (sorry never can be sure of gender on here) hit the nail right on the head. It is a "stamp". I will need to go back into some of my research, but I believe "The Constitution" was a publication (paper/news letter) run by the prodominant political party of the era. The size makes me question whether or not it was an ink press. My gut feeling is, it is a wax stamp. The handle would have been made of wood, and subsequently is lost to history. the tack holes are a pretty cool accent.
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

:dontknow: but I think vayank is close ..with print block :icon_scratch: for their Campaign leaflet , maybe. Very interesting 8)
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

Dude... what state did you find that in? I do not care about exact place, just state... You are holding a HUGE! pice of history! I new I saw that symbol before :hello2: :read2: We have a banner find on our handS!!!!!! Well, your hand.
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

bigmac6006 said:
Dude... what state did you find that in? I do not care about exact place, just state... You are holding a HUGE! pice of history! I new I saw that symbol before :hello2: :read2: We have a banner find on our handS!!!!!! Well, your hand.
:icon_thumleft: Yes!!! :icon_thumright:
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

that is a AWESOME find!!!!!!!!! MR TUFF
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

Ok... here we go.... (deep breath)... The stamp (print AND wax) was created in support of President Buchanan's support of the "Dred Scott" ruling. (Obviously not a decision agreed with today). The slogan was the unofficial slogan of the 15th President, that ironically had no slogan. The "Union" states hated the slogan, but the southern states promoted it. WHAT CONTROVERSY!!!! I have only viewed the actual symbol once... and I cannot find the book at the moment, but I know it drew a bunch of conflict. PUT IT IN YOUR SAFE!!!! If you have a sense of patriotism, and any dedication to US History, that piece needs to make it's way to the Smithsonian. I have no idea, or any way to find out how many of the stamps were made, but I would guess not many, and only possessed in the southern states, as the underground railroad was at full steam during that time period. Congrads!!! For the record, Buchanan was one of the worst US Presidents in history... LOL.
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

You are correct about the material make up... Pewter. Seems to be a strong topic today... Clean water wash only... no abrasives. Looks like it is in SUPER condition for a long burial. I'm kinda glad I didn't find it, as I would be looking for ink right now... Iron grade and all!
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

Very interesting find!


Check out this similar type item.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/5875068


You should contact Early American (Dana) about your plate. He deals with everything from Early documents, to coins, early military, and apparently printing plates too. I believe his main expertise is early documents as it seems to make up most of his inventory... so he would obviously be a good place to go for an item like this. You might have caught him on Pawn Stars if you seen the John Hancock document episode. I am suggesting this to get a good handle on what exactly you have, and never sell something right away for the first offer that's thrown at you. Only a true collector will ever pay top dollar. Looking forward to hearing more about this one.
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

This thing has it all, WELL DONE!!!!!
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

That is SWEET!!! Would love to see it imprinted. Any chance you can press that into some modeling clay and take a pic so as not to dirty it up with ink?
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

Historyhound said:
That is SWEET!!! Would love to see it imprinted. Any chance you can press that into some modeling clay and take a pic so as not to dirty it up with ink?
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

goldcoastwayne said:
A past auction of political memorabilia offered a handbill that is very similar to yours.....check auction #583, center plate:

http://www.railsplitter.com/sale10/political2.html

Hope this helps..... goldcoastwayne


It might be more valuable to sell stamped paper and not the plate! ;D
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

Man send this over to Butch at American Digger. It WILL make it. Awesome find! Cant wait to hear more about it. I am searching to see what I can dig up.
 

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Re: Today was brutal...but man was it worth it!

Iron Patch said:
Historyhound said:
That is SWEET!!! Would love to see it imprinted. Any chance you can press that into some modeling clay and take a pic so as not to dirty it up with ink?

They could be talking about today's politicians. (lol)

Congratulations on your find. Unbelievable condition. HH
 

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