fly embossing press
An early version of the BLOCKING PRESS ,
which was capable of exerting the enormous
pressure required to block covers with engraved
plates often of the same size as the cover, even
quartos and folios. This type of press was
probably introduced sometime in the late 1820s by
JOSEPH THOUVENIN
and was used extensively until the later part of
the 19th century. The description "fly" may stem
from the instantaneous release of pressure (the
platen "flying" up). (203 , 236 )
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