Gallery

 

DANZIG REPORT
G.P.S STUDY GROUP

Editor: John H. Bloecher Jr., 1743 Little Creek Drive, Baltimore, Md. 21207

Studies of the Original Cliches

Pictured at the left is an original cliche (plate) from Michel No. 276. It is part of a group of plates that apparently were buried for security during the WWII, since there were stains from the clay on the metal. Overall, the plates were in quite good shape; they reproduced well when reprint proofs were pulled. First, we had the plates cleaned and mounted on blocks of wood, to provide a surface for the printing press. It was at this time that we noticed that there were no holes drilled for any cliche nails, possibly indicating that these plates were “spares” at the Sauer printing plant and had never been used. Another unusual feature was the notch at the bottom of the plate. First reactions indicated that the person who liberated the plates from the Nazis wished to remove the HAN numbers and all evidence of theft Later we decided that the HAN numbers were changed rather often at the plant, negating the casting of the number wit] the main illustration. Obviously then the notch is the place where their individual HAN letters and numbers are fastened for each House Printing Nutnbe: which includes the date. We have trie to simulate this condition by having a slug of lead type cast, by cutting it to fit, and then by locking the slug into place within the notch. There’s good chance that the original type fac of the 1930’s were set with each lette: being picked up by hand, but the resul are similar to what is shown here.

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 69 - October - November - December - 1990, Page 1.