Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2024.FIC.020 |
Object Name |
Block, Printing |
Title |
Trent House Printing Block |
Description |
A black rectangular metal plate with an embossed image of the Trent House on the front is attached to a brown cuboid wooden block. The front of the block is a darker shade of brown than the rest of the piece. The image is framed by an embossed inscription, with "The Trent Story" at the top and "The Trent House 1776 Eleanor Nolan Shuman" at the bottom. The inscription is written in reverse, and the metal plate curves around the inscription at the top and bottom. The image of the Trent House shows the building from the front, highlighting its two-story structure, two chimneys, and a tower with a flag on top. The first floor has four windows, the second floor has five windows, and the tower features a single window. There is a door between the windows on the first floor. The house is surrounded by trees, shrubbery, and a pathway leading up to the building. The top of the block is engraved with the small inscription, "BECK PHIL," while all other sides remain plain. This printing block was used for the cover of The Trenton Story, a 1958 book written by Eleanor Nolan Shuman. The book chronicles the history of Trenton, New Jersey, from its initial Native American settlement through to 1957. The project was completed under the guidance of Donal J. Connolly, the mayor of Trenton at the time. According to williamtrenthouse.org, William Trent immigrated to America in the early 1690s and became a successful merchant and slave owner in Philadelphia. In 1714, Trent purchased a tract of land in western central New Jersey from Marlon Stacy and built a home there in 1719. He officially moved from Philadelphia to this property in 1721, and the house would later become known as the Trent House. Before Trent's ownership, the land belonged to the Lenni-Lenape Native Americans and was referred to as "Lenapehoking." The city of Trenton derives its name from the phrase "Trent's Town," referring to the area surrounding the Trent House. Citations Home. WilliamTrentHouse. (n.d.). https://www.williamtrenthouse.org/ |
Date |
1958 |
Material |
Wood and Metal |
Artist |
Unknown |
Height (in) |
7.500 |
Length (in) |
4.500 |
Width (in) |
1.000 |
Condition |
Okay |
Condition Notes |
Overall: Discolorations throughout. Accretions on the back. Front: There are abrasions all over the wood. Also, there are abrasions around the inscription. Right Side: There are dark brown discolorations all over. Also, there is a small crack on the bottom near the right side. Back: There are white accretions all over. There is a large black accretion taking up most of the space on the bottom. There is a tape accretion on the bottom near the right side. There is a scratch on the upper right corner. And finally, there is a black discoloration on the left side. Left Side: There is a black discoloration all over the left side and the bottom. Top: There is a black discoloration on top. Also, there is a scratch on the center near the middle. Bottom: There are black discolorations all over. Also, there are blue discolorations all over. |
Inscription Type |
Inscription |
Inscription Location |
Front, Top to Bottom, Left to Right |
Inscription Technique |
Embossed |
Inscription Text |
"The" Line 1 "Trenton" Line 2 "Story" Line 3 "The Trent House 1776" Line 4 "Eleanore Noaln Shuman" Line 5 Inscription Etched Top, Center, Middle "BECK PHILA" Line 1 |
People |
William Trent Donal J. Connolly Eleanore Nolan Shuman |
Classification |
Historic Sites People |
Subjects |
Metals Printmaking Printmaking equipment Metalwork Writing Writing materials Wood Wood blocks Historic buildings Water Historic sites City & town life Cities & towns Books Mayors Politics & government Politicians Political representation Political participation Voting |
Search Terms |
William Trent Trent House Wood Metal Brown Printing Block Letterpress The Trenton Story 19th Century 20th Century Books Donal J. Connolly Mayor Trent House Printing Block Wooden Block Printing Plate |
Provenance |
Found in collection |