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Printing Plate for Facsimile 3, circa 16 May 1842

Source Note

Reuben Hedlock

1809–5 July 1869. Printer, carpenter, journeyman. Born in U.S. Married first Susan Wheeler, 1827. Married second Lydia Fox. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by 1836. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, and ordained an elder, by ...

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, Printing plate for “A Fac-simile from the Book of Abraham. No. 3,” [
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, ca. 16 May 1842]; Church History Museum, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City.
One printing plate representing a vignette, or illustration, from an Egyptian papyrus, measuring 4⅛ × 6½ × ⅞ inches (10 × 17 × 2 cm). The metal plate, measuring ¼ inch (1 cm) thick, is attached to a wooden block that is ⅝ inch (2 cm) thick, with one screw near each of the four corners. The metal plate was evidently attached to the wooden block to make the entire plate the same height as the regular type. In six instances, pieces of type bearing numerals 1 through 6 were attached to this plate by drilling holes through both the plate and wood after they were fastened together and securing the type with a soft, putty-like substance. One hole in the plate is not filled with type or nails—perhaps indicating the hole was part of the original wood carving and therefore transferred to the mold.
1

See the empty hole behind the seated person (figure 1).


It is possible that the creator of the plate intended to affix additional pieces of type to the plate or fasten the plate to the wood block at additional points. The numerals on the plate identified elements of the image that are keyed to explanations printed with the facsimile.
2

See Book of Abraham and Facsimiles, 1 Mar.–16 May 1842.


At the bottom of the plate, “ENG.BY R’HEDLOCK” is set in type, identifying
Reuben Hedlock

1809–5 July 1869. Printer, carpenter, journeyman. Born in U.S. Married first Susan Wheeler, 1827. Married second Lydia Fox. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by 1836. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, and ordained an elder, by ...

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as the engraver. This type is secured in place by a metal rule, which is screwed into the wooden block at the bottom edge of the plate. Work on the plate was completed by the time the 16 May 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons was printed. Sometime after the printing of the Book of Abraham was completed, someone attached a wire to the back of the plate with two large, u-shaped nails, likely in order to display the plate on a wall. An unknown white substance is also adhered to the back of the wooden block.
The plate was cataloged by the Historian’s Office in 1858.
3

“Historian’s Office Catalogue Book March 1858,” [38]; “Contents of the Historian & Recorder’s Office. G. S. L. City July 1858,” 13, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

At an unknown time, it was moved to the Bureau of Information at Temple Square, which was established in 1902.
4

Alexander, Mormonism in Transition, 240–241.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Alexander, Thomas G. Mormonism in Transition: A History of the Latter-day Saints, 1890–1930. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1986.

Later, it was transferred to the Museum of Church History and Art (now Church History Museum). By 1992, the plates for Facsimiles 1 and 2 had been processed and cataloged at that museum.
5

See the full bibliographic entries for the printing plates (LDS 92-326-337, LDS 92-326-295, and LDS 92-326-296) in the catalog of the Church History Museum, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City.


The plate for Facsimile 3, which had been deaccessioned by the museum at an unknown time, was acquired by the Church History Department in 2009.
6

Correspondence, 18 Aug. 2016, copy in editors’ possession.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See the empty hole behind the seated person (figure 1).

  2. [2]

    See Book of Abraham and Facsimiles, 1 Mar.–16 May 1842.

  3. [3]

    “Historian’s Office Catalogue Book March 1858,” [38]; “Contents of the Historian & Recorder’s Office. G. S. L. City July 1858,” 13, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  4. [4]

    Alexander, Mormonism in Transition, 240–241.

    Alexander, Thomas G. Mormonism in Transition: A History of the Latter-day Saints, 1890–1930. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1986.

  5. [5]

    See the full bibliographic entries for the printing plates (LDS 92-326-337, LDS 92-326-295, and LDS 92-326-296) in the catalog of the Church History Museum, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City.

  6. [6]

    Correspondence, 18 Aug. 2016, copy in editors’ possession.

Historical Introduction

See Introduction to Facsimile Printing Plates and Published Book of Abraham, circa 23 February–circa 16 May 1842.

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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Printing Plate for Facsimile 3, circa 16 May 1842
ID #
18241
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, R4:300–301
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