A Collection of 13 Vintage British Letterpress Printing Blocks Including Manchester City Council and ICI Logos

This collection consists of 13 vintage letterpress printing blocks, or clichés, featuring a variety of commercial, civic, and heraldic designs. The items are constructed from metal plates, likely zinc or lead alloy, mounted on wooden or metal bases. The subject matter includes a large block depicting the Manchester City Council coat of arms with the motto INDUSTRIA ET VIRTUTE (By industry and virtue). Also present is a block for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) featuring the company roundel, and two blocks for the Coal Utilisation Council (CUC), with text including DOMESTIC HEATING ENGINEER. Other commercial blocks include designs for BEST ROOF BRAND, DEXTER, MIDOM, and AAM LONDON. One circular block features a seahorse motif with the reversed text THE INSTITUTE. The remaining blocks depict various heraldic crests and decorative emblems with detailed mantling and shields. These blocks were used in traditional printing processes where the raised surfaces were inked and pressed onto paper. The specific organisations represented indicate a British origin, likely dating from the mid-20th century.

Largest block: approximately 50 mm x 45 mm

Smallest block: approximately 20 mm x 20 mm

Scale length: 150 mm.