Featured Printing Plate Things

Got a group of printing plates that are a bit different than I usually see. They are lead, flat, and have a tab on back for fitting on a wood board. There's some symbols, fancy lettering, and such. They came in a wood box with slide out boards that they would have fit on. Is there a name for this type? I usually see the lead/brass on wood block types, or the thicker lead letterpress type blocks. The example below is around 2 x 2 inches.

 

That's a good mystery!
Is the image raised above the flat surface or carved into it?

 

Carved in. There was an odd fellows FLT with rings piece. I'll have to get more pictures tomorrow if needed. They are sitting in a storage unit at the moment.

 

These are interesting. Are they for embossed cards?

 

Interesting....never saw such before!!! AND not really understanding their use.....

 

It would need to be a harder metal for embossing or invitation engraving, as the equipment uses high pressure in the process.

The backs are the odd part. I don't know if there are special grips for them to be used in letterpress.

 

Perhaps, I wasn't using the correct words. I meant an overlay on the card of a raised design.

 

Embossing results in a design that's raised up from the surrounding material, and Debossing results in a design that's stamped down or recessed into the surrounding material. High pressure is used. They also use a set of two dies to make it happen.

 

Thank you.

 

Can we see the fancy lettering, so we can get an idea of the period? That could help find out more.

 

How large is the box? Am I understanding correctly that the raised part on the back of the bird slides into a wooden board which would allow it to be turned over and printed? If the bird plate is only 2x2 the board I see in the box looks much longer. Could they have slid several blocks into the board to stamp side by side? I am not sure if I am making my self clear. I can see it in my mind !

 

The bird is more like 3x3 actually. Here's a few more pictures. They fit loosely on the boards.

 

Possibly for some type of pantograph/engraving machine.