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Message 1
From: "marilynn smih"
Date: Sun, 01 May 2005 07:55:14 -0700
Subject: [Baren 27902] RE: Baren Digest (old) V31 #3053
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Dave, I would like to see these blocks printed. There seems to be areas in the blocks that are high and might print in the space that remains white in the final print. I would guess that they were created from the print to copy it. The person doing the carving simply forgot or didn't know to reverse the image. Possibly someone learning printmaking.
Marilynn

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Message 2
From: FurryPressII # aol.com
Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 14:53:06 EDT
Subject: [Baren 27903] Re: Woodblock puzzle ...
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It is a professionally cut wood engraving block so it was not cut right reading by mistake so it was either cut for an early form of offset printing or to make a stereographic mold of to make matrixes for commercial printing. john c.

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Message 3
From: Dave Bull
Date: Mon, 2 May 2005 15:55:00 +0900
Subject: [Baren 27904] Re: Woodblock puzzle ...
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Mike said - re the woodblock puzzle:
> -- so what's YOUR take on it? Can't wait to hear!

I'm going to have to disappoint! I don't have a 'solution' to this
puzzle ... I was kind of hoping somebody on the list would be able to
come up with a simple and believable explanation for it!

As a couple of you have mentioned, the quality of the carving seems to
eliminate 'mistake' as a candidate for an explanation. As for the block
being meant for use in a 'transfer' type of offset printing - block 'A'
transfers to roller 'B' transfers to paper 'C' - I would sort of doubt
this, as I think it would tend to be difficult to get a consistent
transfer of ink to the roller. But there really doesn't seem to be any
other explanation, as it obviously can't be used for _direct_ relief
printing, and using it as a matrix for making a mold to cast a metal
block would still leave you with a wrong-way-round printing plate ...

The lettering is the company name: Kobe Shizai Kabushiki Kaisha (Kobe
Materials Corporation), and George Jarvis up in Akita sent me a note
that it was a company who made matches, and who used that name up until
1947.

Anyway, thanks for the input; I'll reply to the correspondent with a
collation of your replies!

***

While I've got you here, I could mention a couple of updates to my
website this week:

- a new site map, to help you find stuff you didn't even know was there:
http://woodblock.com/sitemap.html

... and two new TV programs:
- a little 'short' filler-type program giving a quick overview of my
work (2 minutes ... about 3.3Mb):
http://woodblock.com/press/woodblock_shimbun.php?storyid=42

- an appearance on one of Takeshi Kitano's variety programs: 'dare demo
Picasso!' (9 minutes ... about 15.5Mb):
http://woodblock.com/press/woodblock_shimbun.php?storyid=39

(TV index page is here:
http://woodblock.com/press/woodblock_shimbun.php?storyid=0 )

Thanx!

Dave

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Message 4
From: FurryPressII # aol.com
Date: Mon, 2 May 2005 08:36:18 EDT
Subject: [Baren 27905] Re: Woodblock puzzle ...
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the other possibility from the blocks would be to make a photo etched matrix
off of the print. If a photo negative is involved is an easy matter of just
flipping the negative.

John c.

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