(ASLP) Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers - union membership badge (1960’s)
The Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers (ASLP) was formed in 1880 from various lithographic printer’s associations across Britain and Ireland. In 1964 they had around 11,000 members throughout 46 branches that included the Republic of Ireland. The ASLP remained an independent union until they merged with the National Graphical Association (NGA) in 1969. ASLP members were kept up-to-date on union matters by mean of quarterly reports and half-yearly reports (1880-1948) and their in-house magazine ‘The Lithographer’ (1949-1968). The ‘Lithographic Gazette’ was a short lived publication lasting only three years (1902-1905).
During their early years, the ASLP were actively involved in social reforms against the exploitation and use of child labour on printing presses as well as improvements in working conditions. The ASLP also ran numerous technical educational courses to raise standards amongst apprentices within the lithographic trade.
This badge depicts the ASLP crest with the Latin motto SAXA LOQUONTUR which roughly translates the ‘stone talks’. This would be a reference to the use of stone lithography whereby the artist draws a waxy image onto a fine grained lithographic limestone for the purposes of producing printed images.
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References:
www.unitetheunion.org/about_us/history/a_pictorial_histor... (Short note on the ASLP including badge pictures).
www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/subject_guides/fa... (The NGA was formed in 1964 by the merger of two long-term rival unions, the Typographical Association and the London Typographical Society. Over the years, it was joined by other smaller printer’s craft associations that included artists, designers, engravers, etc. The NGA and the Society of Graphical & Allied Trades merged in 1990 to form the Graphical, Paper & Media Union (GPMU).)
www.unionancestors.co.uk/Images/AmicusFamTree.pdf (British union family trees including that of the print related unions, pages 9 & 10).
entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/stone-lithog... (Stone lithography and how it works. Stone lithography was invented c.1798 and was very popular during the 19th century, especially the 1830’s through to the 1860’s.)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithographic_Limestone (Wikipedia article on lithographic limestone).
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Enamels: 2 (blue & red).
Finish: Chrome.
Material: Brass.
Fixer: Pin.
Size: 7/8” across x 1 1/16” down (about 23mm x 28mm)
Process: Die stamped.
Maker: F&S (Fattorini & Sons Ltd of Birmingham).
.
Thank you for reading.
Stuart.
(ASLP) Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers - union membership badge (1960’s)
The Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers (ASLP) was formed in 1880 from various lithographic printer’s associations across Britain and Ireland. In 1964 they had around 11,000 members throughout 46 branches that included the Republic of Ireland. The ASLP remained an independent union until they merged with the National Graphical Association (NGA) in 1969. ASLP members were kept up-to-date on union matters by mean of quarterly reports and half-yearly reports (1880-1948) and their in-house magazine ‘The Lithographer’ (1949-1968). The ‘Lithographic Gazette’ was a short lived publication lasting only three years (1902-1905).
During their early years, the ASLP were actively involved in social reforms against the exploitation and use of child labour on printing presses as well as improvements in working conditions. The ASLP also ran numerous technical educational courses to raise standards amongst apprentices within the lithographic trade.
This badge depicts the ASLP crest with the Latin motto SAXA LOQUONTUR which roughly translates the ‘stone talks’. This would be a reference to the use of stone lithography whereby the artist draws a waxy image onto a fine grained lithographic limestone for the purposes of producing printed images.
.
References:
www.unitetheunion.org/about_us/history/a_pictorial_histor... (Short note on the ASLP including badge pictures).
www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/subject_guides/fa... (The NGA was formed in 1964 by the merger of two long-term rival unions, the Typographical Association and the London Typographical Society. Over the years, it was joined by other smaller printer’s craft associations that included artists, designers, engravers, etc. The NGA and the Society of Graphical & Allied Trades merged in 1990 to form the Graphical, Paper & Media Union (GPMU).)
www.unionancestors.co.uk/Images/AmicusFamTree.pdf (British union family trees including that of the print related unions, pages 9 & 10).
entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/stone-lithog... (Stone lithography and how it works. Stone lithography was invented c.1798 and was very popular during the 19th century, especially the 1830’s through to the 1860’s.)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithographic_Limestone (Wikipedia article on lithographic limestone).
.
Enamels: 2 (blue & red).
Finish: Chrome.
Material: Brass.
Fixer: Pin.
Size: 7/8” across x 1 1/16” down (about 23mm x 28mm)
Process: Die stamped.
Maker: F&S (Fattorini & Sons Ltd of Birmingham).
.
Thank you for reading.
Stuart.