Hobbies And Interests
How Cuts Were Used
Letterpress cuts were usually used in tandem with movable or cast-line hot metal type. Since type was limited to common alphabetical and numerical symbols, cuts were used to duplicate photos, logos, special designs and borders. More modern cuts include typography as well as graphic symbols, since much of the movable and hot metal type fonts have been recycled due to waning popularity. The name "cut" derived from the original method of production, which involved hand cutting the design from wood or soft metal blacks. Cuts were set into the press "chase" along with the type, and were inked and pressed onto the paper.
Wooden Cuts
Wooden cuts did not last very long. Pressure from the printing process and age caused many wooden cuts to become damaged and consequently discarded. Printing was always and serious business, and unless the cut was properly stored and preserved for some reason, cuts were not usually saved. Some wood cuts have survived however, and dating can be difficult. Before commercial cut manufacturing became popular in the mid 1800s, local craftsmen were employed to make the cuts.
Wooden cuts are not to be confused with wooden type, of which many examples remain from the mid-1800s to the early 20th century.
Etched Cuts
The most common cuts are of zinc or magnesium, acid-etched through a photographic process, and mounted on a wood base with glue or nails. The process is still used today, and became commercially viable in the mid-1800s. Magnesium cuts are brighter in color than zinc, and are less prone to corrosion.
Stereotypes
Also dating from the mid-1800s, stereotypes are cast from a master mold, and are heavier than acid-etched cuts. Designed for very long print runs, or repeated printing of common logos, symbols and borders, stereotypes are also mounted on wood bases, but larger examples may be a solid metal block.
Electrotypes
Electrotypes are similar to stereotypes, but are electroplated with a surface metal, usually copper, to increase durability. Electrotypes were commonly used in newspaper and large quantity government and advertising work in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Photo-polymer Cuts
Photo-polymer cuts have largely replaced all cut types in modern usage. Produced using a chemical and photographic process, photo-polymer plates are translucent, with a metal or polyester sheet backing, and are glued to a wooden base.
Research
A number of good books and websites are dedicated to letterpress printing and famous collectible cuts. Since the letterpress industry was comprised of many thousands of printers around the globe over hundreds of years, nailing down the origin of your cut is a daunting task.