Franklin Printing Press

Summary

The Franklin Printing Press, an English common press, from the Historic Relics Collection. In 1768, Benjamin Franklin visited the printing company in London where he had apprenticed in the 1720s. Franklin purportedly took a turn at this press, although he had not operated a press when he worked there. The press was then deemed so historically valuable that it was purchased and transported to the United States, where it went on display in the Patent Office Building and later went to the Smithsonian as the "Franklin Press."

Author

Unknown

Subject

Franklin, Benjamin 1706-1790

Category

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

Notes

See also RU 95 Box 53, Folder 9 Negative Number 9160 for similar photograph.

Contained within

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 285, Box 17, Folder: 3

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

c. 1890s

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Topic

• Printing
• Artifacts
• Exhibitions
• English Common Press
• Franklin Printing Press
• Historical Relics Collection
• Printing presses

Form/Genre

• Photographic print
• Object

ID Number

SIA2010-2429 or 17539-B or MAH-17539B

Physical description

Color: Black and White; Size: 4 3/4w x 8h; Type of Image: Object; Medium: Photographic print

Full Record

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