Printing Matrices

Description

Printing matrices, or mats, consisting of 204 characters representing the International Phonetic Alphabet. It is likely that these matrices were acquired for use in publications relating to the Survey of English Dialects (SED), most probably for the Basic Material volumes.


The matrices are housed in a box and kept in place by a small metal frame which is broken. The box is labelled in ms., 180/327-10 (possibly the matrix designation), and has an additional adhesive label, labelled No Bars in ms. The supplier of the matrices is unknown.

Biography or history

A printing matrix is a metal block in which a character is stamped or engraved so as to form a mould for typesetting. Matrices of all the letters to be printed on a single page are assembled, and hot metal is poured into them to form a plate which then goes into the printing press to print the page.

Access and usage

Reproduction

Access

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The catalogue titles or descriptions in this collection may contain terminology and phrases that would now be considered unacceptable. Where present these original terms continue to be included to preserve historical accuracy and provide social and historical context.

Material in this collection is in copyright. Photocopies or digital images can only be supplied by the Library for research or private study within the terms of copyright legislation. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce for any other purpose. Guidance is available on tracing copyright status and ownership.

Physical and technical conditions

Many of the individual matrices have become stuck together.


The box is damaged and has become fragile, probably due to the weight of the matrices.

Related material

Correspondence between Harold Orton and E. J. Arnold and Son regarding the publication and printing of the SED Basic Material volumes is held at LAVC/SED/1/1/3. Correspondence between Stewart Sanderson and companies including the Monotype Corporation regarding phonetic symbolisation in the 'Linguistic Atlas of England' (LAE) maps is held at LAVC/STA/1/1/2/5.


Another box of printing matrices is held at LAVC/ART/004.

Related subjects / tags

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