Printing plate?

[Boomer-1]

A friend brought this to our last meeting. He got this as a gift and wanted to know more about it. It looks like a printing plate of some sort, it's an oval piece of copper with pinpricks in it to make the image.

It looks like maybe a Mexican war era US artillery soldier in dress uniform, his Shako hat has crossed cannon, eagle shield badge, and a feathered plume. The sword kinda looks like a West Point cadet sword. And maybe an 1852 wreath buckle.

Maybe I got all that right, but maybe someone here can correct me if I'm wrong.

Another question is, Who is this man? He had to be important to have had a plate made of him right?

It has a kind of a strange effect in that it goes from a negative to a positive when turned from left to right.



Also in black and white, and reversed.



Nothing on the back, just smooth copper.

 

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[creskol]

If I am not mistaking, that is an actual photograph. The process used was called "photogravure" where the image was actually etched into the copper plate.
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[Hawk'n Dirt]

Now that is really cool!

 

[Boomer-1]

I emailed an art expert that was familiar with photogravure, he said no.....

Adam - not a photogravure. it looks like it could be an early half-tone plate.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

I have seen these before.. I will ask the guy who I know who had something like this before in his shop.. Might be til Monday though when i see him... good luck.

 

[Army of 1]

I don't have a clue , but its a cool item .. cheers Mick

 

[Boomer-1]

I was wondering if this could be the sword?

Early Civil War Non Commissioned Officers Militia Sword N P Ames Style Carved | eBay

 

[skeeterd]

Have you tried to make a print of it? I don't know anything about printing plates, but others on here do.