Description: PALMOLIVE SOAP, SUPER SUDS, BLUE BOX,LETTERPRESS PRINTER'S BLOCK,RARE, Circa 1936. Lead-Copper Letterpress Wooden Printing Block. NOTE꞉ If you want to purchase a piece of vintage printing history, don't buy an image ripped out of some magazine or newspaper. Instead, buy the printing block that printed the actual image! QUANTITY꞉ ONE vintage Palmolive Soap letterpress printing block. CIRCA꞉ Based on our research and other letterpress blocks within the group, we believe this particular letterpress block / advertising campaign was running in United States newspapers between 1935 and 1937. RARITY꞉ You are purchasing an EXTREMELY rare / unique, American-made letterpress printing block. In the late 1800's (and up through the mid-1900's) books, posters, tickets, forms, newspapers, and other types of printed paper were produced on a printing press. Movable type and wooden / metal printing blocks (also known as a letterpress cut or printing dies) were set in a frame (known as a chase) and ink was rolled over the surface of the metal image with a roller (also known as a brayer) before the paper was pressed into the inked surface. This process was known as relief printing which included woodcut, relief etching, linocut, linotype, and metal cut. ABOUT PALMOLIVE: Developed in 1898 by Burdett J. Johnson, the B. J. Johnson Company was making a soap from palm and olive oil in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The soap was so popular, that in 1917, the company renamed itself “Palmolive.” At the start of the 20th century, Palmolive was the world's best-selling soap. Extensive advertising included the radio programs “The Palmolive Hour” (1927-1931) and “Palmolive Beauty Box Theater” (1934-1937). A Kansas City, Kansas-based soap manufacturer known as Peet Brothers (originally from Wisconsin), merged with Palmolive to become Palmolive-Peet. In 1928, Palmolive-Peet acquired the Colgate Company to create the Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company. In 1953, Peet was dropped from the name, leaving only Colgate-Palmolive Company (the company's current name). In the beginning of television, Colgate-Palmolive competed with Procter and Gamble as a sponsor of “soap operas” and sponsored many “soaps” in full or in part. The term "soap opera" actually originated from radio dramas - - sponsored by soap manufacturers. ABOUT SUPER SUDS: Palmolive marketed two different products under the “Super Suds” trademark: Soap for washing dishes (which was in a red box) and soap for washing laundry (which was in a blue box). On March 22, 1927, “Super Suds” was a registered as a United States Trademark (No. 71240534). The name “Super Suds” was first used in commerce on November 20, 1926 by the Palmolive Company (later Colgate & Company of 105 Hudson Street, Jersey City, New Jersey). That particular registration is now dead. DIMENSIONS꞉ This wood and metal letterpress printing block measures 0.92" deep by 2.07" high by 2.085" wide and weighs 3.8 ounces, 107 grams (it's a fairly large block with almost four-square inches of printing surface). This stamp is a professionally made letterpress block used for printing. It shows some surface wear from being in the press. CONDITION꞉ This letterpress block is used. ORIENTATION꞉ Wrong reading. What this means is when you hold the block in your hand and look at the metal die, the image is reversed. COPPER ELECTROPLATING꞉ This particular letterpress block has a copper electroplated surface. Copper or zinc electroplating was added to the surface of letterpress plates to keep the images sharp -and- to increase the number of impressions a plate could produce before being "retired." If you would like to "shine up" the surface of the plate, we would suggest you use a little copper cleaner (or ketchup) on a toothbrush to bring out its brilliant copper color, remove tarnish and any residual inks. NOTES ABOUT THE IMAGE SURFACE: Every time a die passes through the printing press, the pressure of the die imprinting on the paper subtly degrades the surface of the plate/die/block. Please see the listing's photographs if you have any questions regarding the suitability of this block if you actually intend to use it for printing. SHIPPING COST꞉ Your shipping cost is calculated when checking out. To keep your shipping cost as low as possible, it's based on “DIM” (i.e. weight, package size and final destination). This item ships by United States First Class Mail or eBay International Delivery. Orders typically ship within one business day of your payment being received.
Price: 18.99 USD
Location: Dayton, Ohio
End Time: 2024-02-20T19:17:11.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Type of Advertising: Letterpress printing block
Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Theme: Soap & Detergent
Original/Reproduction: Original
California Prop 65 Warning: Contains lead which can cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Exposure to lead and lead compounds may increase cancer risk and may cause anemia, weakness, kidney and brain / neurological damage.
Date of Creation: 1936
Color: Multi-color
Brand: Palmolive-related
