✅ SOLVED Odd Copper Plate with Script Engraving

[paleomaxx]

Found this in a field today and it's definitely different. The field has been producing some nice late colonial relics and this was a perfect 96 signal in all directions. I was hoping it was a silver half, but instead the plug revealed a heavy copper rectangle. It's thick copper, but no sign of hooks or any other fittings so I didn't think it was a belt buckle.



It wasn't until it started to dry that I spotted the script letters on one side. They're engraved in, but they're backwards:



I reversed the image and it appears to say "Miss Elizabeth Beach" although I might be wrong on the surname. Being backwards I'm thinking a printing plate, but it's an odd find for the middle of a field and the engraving is quite shallow which makes it seem like it would be ill-suited for printing clearly. It's also strange it isn't pewter like many of the printing plates I see.

Here's the reversed image:



What do you think this was used for?

 

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[Renaebri]

I would say printing plate I guess? Pretty cool!
someone posted copper ones here too, they seem pretty similar http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/175691-engraved-copper-plates-handwriting-expert-needed.html

Maybe if you looked up the county you found it in + the name you might get more info? thats generally how I research lol, just throw different combinations in google and see where I end up.

 

[paleomaxx]

Interesting; I did do some searches on the name, but there wasn't much attributed to the local area and it doesn't match up with known owners of the property. If it is a letter-head plate then my instinct would be that it's from someone with some prominence. This can't have been cheap in those days.

 

[A2coins]

Research can be fun. that's a cool piece very interesting relic.....

 

[cudamark]

I once found something similar and was told it was an embossment plate.

 

[1637]

allot of boats are named miss something.

 

[Royn2751]

Before thermographic inks, the only way to get raised printing was with a copper plate like your find. People of means used "Calling Cards" in the 18th & 19th century and some folks will still pay a small fortune for calling/business cards made by this method.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Before thermographic inks, the only way to get raised printing was with a copper plate like your find. People of means used "Calling Cards" in the 18th & 19th century and some folks will still pay a small fortune for calling/business cards made by this method.

This was my first thought when saw your find also... a Victorian Calling Card printing plate.

Here are some examples of Victorian calling cards I found online.

Dave

 

[Reanm8er]

Interesting find paleomax!

OK I see the concept but how did they ink the letters and not the whole plate? or was it an ink and wipe process. I have seen mourning notes written in white ink on black paper but this is obviously something different.

 

[Royn2751]

The plate was inked then squegeed off only remaining in the incused lettering. Remember the photo has been reversed. The card was then pressed onto the plate under substantial pressure, transferring the now positive ink to the card.
I have to thank "Crafty Stafford", my drunken 8th grade print shop teacher for imparting this almost useless tidbit of ephemera.

 

[Peyton Manning]

She used that to put her name on her underwear, I always thought it was odd

 

[Reanm8er]

Thanks Royn! That's pretty much what I expected.

 

[Kiros32]

I found years ago identical to that but was never able to discern what it said. Same style script and everything. I thought it was unique but it sounds like there are others. Cool!

 

[Ripcon]

Check This One Out

I'm glad you posted your plate here. Because of that, I was able to identify a calling card plate that I believe I found several years back. Here's mine with the name Gerald E. Kelly etched on it in reverse.