W515-1 Strip Card Printing Plate?

Originally Posted by Cozumeleno

Shouldn't there be vertical dashed lines on it, too, in between the cards to indicate the cut line? Perhaps it wouldn't show up in the scans, but the seller took close ups that allow you to see it reasonably well. Using the eBay magnifying function, I can't even make out a trace of them.

I thought the same thing but gave the benefit of the doubt to the seller. I don't see any indication of them on the plates after additional scrutiny though.

[bnorth]

The spacing between the cards look off also. Plus the cards are in the wrong spot making it IMPOSSIBLE to be what it is described as. Your friend needs to return it immediately if not sooner.

[steve B]

The easy bit is that it is a printing plate.

That's where "easy" ends.
It is definitely NOT the sort of plate used for lithography.
The stones used were/are solid limestone and usually fairly thick, 2-4 inches.
Lithography plates are typically aluminum, with a coating on one side.
By 1923 stones for commercial lithography were less common.


What this is - Is a plate from one of the forms of typography. The suggestion that it's from either a newspaper ad of some kind or perhaps a book is a good one.
It's still a pretty cool piece, making them wasn't always cheap, which is why some old publications bragged about how many photographs either color or otherwise were included.
A bit of work should actually let the owner produce a print, maybe not a great print since the halftone screening is a pit rough, but a print.

I have a couple from one of the postcard sets, I've never printed from them, but it's possible.

Steve B