S. J. Smith, Hand Lever Printing Press, Patent Model No. 18,557, Nov. 3, 1857
Samuel J. Smith (1820-1909) of New York, New York, improved the hand lever printing press, and this is his patent model for the new device released on 3 November 1857. Printing had begun centuries earlier, in 9th c. Tang Dynasty China, improved significantly in 14th c. Korea, and is heavily associated with the moveable type of Johannes Gutenberg's press that came to life in Mainz, Germany (in 1436) before the Venetians self-fashioned their city as the hub of early modern printing. The invention of printing dramatically changed the world, people could share knowledge and information quickly, widely and inexpensively; and over the centuries, many, many improvements were made to the original form of the block print and of the press itself--including this hand lever domestic printing press that was made "for printing envelopes, note paper, cards and similar small articles." Smith's patented mini press also improved the inking process, allowing the operator to see the inking, something that allowed for much more uniform inking and higher quality looking printed items. The legal documentation includes Smith's signature and the signatures of his 3 witnesses to this new invention.