blocking press
A press which heats blocks and impresses
lettering. designs, etc., into the covers of
books. In edition binding this is done
automatically, gold or pigment foils being fed
through the machine on a thin plastic BLOCKING FOIL . The
blocking press is used for BLIND BLOCKING or ink
blocking; heat is not required for the latter
process. When gold leaf is used it is laid
directly on the book cover. The blocking press
first came into use in England in the period
1830-32 for gold blocking on book cloths. Before
this time books were blocked with a block that was
heated off the press and then laid on the cover
and pressed. Also called "embossing press" and, in
the United States, "stamping press." (107 , 203 , 236 )
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