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Author Topic:   STS-107 Columbia newspaper printing plates
jaygreen1313
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Posts: 7
From: Orlando FL USA
Registered: May 2014

posted 05-16-2014 09:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for jaygreen1313   Click Here to Email jaygreen1313     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have acquired 3 aluminum printing plates? dated Feb. 1st 2003. They are from the Florida Today newspaper relating to the Columbia tragedy (Originally a 20 page Special Edition). I'm having difficulty finding a reference point as to what the value might be. I don't know that I'd sell them but I still am curious. Any suggestions?

p51
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Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 05-16-2014 10:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I worked for a newspaper for four years in the 80s and 90s. Most newspapers would have the plate room make extra plates for some newsworthy events. Normally you can tell these by the lack of ink stains/residue in the corners and along the surface, and they usually didn't punch the square registration holes where they were placed on the printing cylinders.

Newspapers normally had at least two press runs on a given day, one for the immediate local area and one for the more regional area, so changes would be made between the two and any updates would be included as well.

I don't think there's a very strong value, unless you can prove it's the plate they used for the major run and it's a famous newspaper...

jaygreen1313
New Member

Posts: 7
From: Orlando FL USA
Registered: May 2014

posted 05-16-2014 01:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jaygreen1313   Click Here to Email jaygreen1313     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm pretty sure that they are not "the" plates used. After looking closely now that I know what to look for, I do have the first and second edition of the front page. No signs of ink or usage. Still, pretty cool. Given to me by a friend, she purchased them for $1 a piece.

Thanks for the info.

p51
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Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 05-16-2014 02:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Generally, these are the things you see in printer used plates:
  • Top and bottom edges bent to the rear to fit on the drum

  • Square holes punched in the center of any given edge, to align the plate

  • Ink residue

  • 'Registration' marks, which are either a crosshairs looking image and a series of boxes, usually at the outer edges, to align the plates with any other color plate that goes onto the page

  • Cover page usually has color photos, so if the photos look perfect in B&W, they make the sample plates with B&W photos whereas the production plate wouldn't likely have anything but an open hole as color photos are printed from the primary three colors and the black portion of a color photo is very light in most cases when you see the black plate of a color photo.

jaygreen1313
New Member

Posts: 7
From: Orlando FL USA
Registered: May 2014

posted 05-16-2014 04:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jaygreen1313   Click Here to Email jaygreen1313     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The upper and lower edges of the plate are bent backward and have square cut outs in the center. What I thought was dirt, smudges could very well be old ink. Also, there are blank spaces where I would think there should be photos. However, there are other photos printed on the plate. I may just have the original plates.

Thanks again.

p51
Member

Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 05-16-2014 04:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sounds like you have the original plate to me. It'd have to be worth more than a sample plate, in my opinion, anyway.

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