Mystery printing plate for Chinese Times, 1st issue, San Francisco circa 1924

[ United Publishing Co., Inc. ]

[ Printing matrix ] Chinese Times Vol 1, No.1 Tuesday July 15, 1924

[ San Francisco, CA ]: United Publishing Co. Inc. [ pre-1930 ]. 8 1/16 inches by 10 5/16 inches by 5/16 inches thick. Wood block with metal matrix affixed to the wood block with metal pins. A few oxidized spots, but overall quite nice condition. Blank paper glued to the rear of the block.

NOTE: we've included an image of what the original newspaper looked like - the paper is NOT included but provided for reference only. We are ONLY selling the printing block. Near Fine. [28645]


According to OCLC and confirmed by a digital image found online, this printing plate appears to be the first issue of this important Chinese journal from San Francisco. We DO NOT believe however that this is the original printing plate, given that the OCLC entries for the newspaper all show a much larger format (nearly twice the physical dimensions of the printing plate). So what is it and when was it created? The original newspaper was started July 15, 1924.

In conversations with a well known newspaper curator, we learned that this printing block likely dates to pre-1930 since the plate is affixed to the wood block with metal pins. An old time printer told the curator that throughout the 1920s printers were switching over to glues from the earlier use of metal pins and by 1930 the conversion was essentially complete.

So while the metal pinning puts us in the right period, the size means it isn't likely to be the original plate. Another possibility would be an anniversary issue of the original in reduced size. But unless the paper celebrated a 5 year anniversary this is unlikely.

The suggestion we find most likely is that it might have been produced for advertising the new paper Chinese Times in other newspapers or media, or perhaps to produce handouts for San Francisco residents who might have been unaware of the new paper's existence. While we have found a photograph of the original newspaper first issue (see photograph, NOT included) we have been unable to find an example in this size so far.

Whatever it's actual use, it is a very interesting piece of printing history related to the San Fransisco California Chinese community in the 1930s.

ITEM SOLD