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[DixieBaseball]

This thread peaked my interest as I am not sure we have had a printing plate discussion by way of actually players from newspapers, yearbooks, etc. - Perhaps I missed it over the years, but is seems the only discussion on Net 54 re/ printing plates were for actual baseball cards. I am surprised I have not seen more of these wood blocks, but here is my lone contribution that I picked up at the National this year. First scans are from camera, then I actually scanned the photo to get a more clear shot of the team and players. (SJ on the jersey) - Would love to know more about this team, etc. - This is the first team printing block I have ever run across, so I had to have it.

[aquarius31]

The wood engravings seem to be so difficult to execute and it truly is an art form. I have seen some very nice modern day woodblocks at local art shows and then I think of the 19th century woodcuts with the superb details and precision. I can't imagine 1 artist doing a single woodcut back them...just speculating but perhaps they had different artists commissioned for different parts of a woodcut ie one for landscape, one for people etc. I don't have a good example off the top of my head but I have seen many similarities in the trees from a few different woodcuts depicting baseball games in progress. These are all great pieces btw and that Crotty is very creative

I don't have any 19th century baseball woodblocks (and I'd be shocked if any actually exist although I guess it is remotely possible) but here's an original woodblock of Eugene Rouher (random French statesmen) along with a more modern (but still "old") Coke copper? block.

[Exhibitman]

These are zinc printing plates from the early 1960s, front-back-envelope:

Kid Bassey:



Kid Paret [killed in the ring]:



Copper etching printed about 175 years ago as a plate in a book: