Catalog Archive
Auction 134, Lot 703

"[Copper Printing Plate] Urban Centers",

Subject: Central Africa

Period: 1920 (circa)

Publication:

Color:

Size:
6 x 8 inches
15.2 x 20.3 cm
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Every map collector's dream - an original engraved copper plate! This is a relief plate rather than intaglio, and its an alloy, but it is still very cool. The map shows portions of Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and the Congo. Names the towns and villages of Heirobi, Gulu, Woto, Lindi, Asusha, Bodoma, Iringa, Kabale, Mwanza, Ujiji and Tabora to mention a few. Each is shown with larger or smaller dots that correspond to size based on legend at lower left. Lake Victoria is fully shown. The scale is 200 miles per inch. The plate, which is mounted on a 1" thick hardwood base, is about 1/16" thick and is permanently attached to the supporting wood block. Areas not included in the image show signs of machine work to remove copper. There is no map maker's mark, but the initials "LM" are at lower right. Copper plates used for printing maps are rare, as the copper was usually recycled when the map became obsolete. The second image has been reversed and enhanced for viewing.

References:

Condition: A

No flaws.

Estimate: $140 - $180

Sold for: $90

Closed on 12/1/2010

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