c. 1830, Woodblock Printing Plate - Backwood Cabin

Wonderful 1800s Woodblock Printing Plate Of Dinner In A Backwoods Cabin Signed “Horton”. c. 1830, Woodblock Printing Plate, Showing Scene in a Backwoods Cabin, Signed “Horton,” Choice Extremely Fine.. The humorous scene shown in this original, hand-engraved, 2.75” x 3.5” wooden printing block, has 2 men and a young man seated for dinner in a backwoods cabin, complete with powder horn on the wall and a raccoon at the butter churn. This block is signed “Horton” at the bottom and there is also a letter “P” on one of the men’s legs. Based on its style and the clothing, this plate was likely used for an illustration in some book or magazine published in the first half of the 1800’s. The engraving work is well done and well preserved, with no cracks or significant flaws. In addition to the main scene, the back of this block is also engraved, showing a 2-story building with a tower. This illustration was to be part of a larger image, but does not appear to have ever been used. The “Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors and Engravers” by Mantle Fielding records an engraver known simply as “Horton” who did engraving for Baltimore and Philadelphia publishers in the 1820’s and 1830’s, and the Baltimore city directory for 1835 lists an engraver named John S. Horton. This printing block may well have been the work of John S. Horton. An attractive and unusual 1800’s engraved printing block..