Columbian Press

Description

Large cast iron hand press painted black with a counterweight in the shape of an eagle. Invented in 1813 by the American George E. Clymer, the Columbian was one of the first iron printing presses. Clymer hoped that the press would encourage the foundation of newspapers in the “Wild West” of the United States. However, the weight of the press made it difficult to transport and it remained in use mainly in eastern American towns and cities. Clymer named his press “Columbian,” a reference to the explorer Christopher Columbus, due to his interest in all things American, and decorated the press with symbols of America, such as the eagle and Lady Liberty, and commerce, such as the caduceus and the dolphin.

Object Name(s): manual presses

Object Category: PRINTING MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT

Creator: THos LONG & CO. Engineers EDINBURGH

Production date: c. 1830

Linear Dimensions Depth: 196

Materials: iron
Material Part: body

Provenance Summary: Donated by Raymond Tahir, Europa Press Glasnevin, Dublin, between 1993-1995.

Credit Line: National Print Museum, Dublin

On view: x