Wood and cast lead printing block. The print image on the block is a circular emblem with arch-like decorations around the entire circle. Inside the circle is an outline of the Greek island of Zakynthos. Flanking the image of Zakynthos is the Greek character Alpha on the right and Zeta on the left. In the middle of the Zakynthos image is the number 48. Below the image, following the lower curve of the circle is the date "1930."

Donated by John Damianos. The printing block was used in a linotype printing machine. Linotype presses allowed for the casting of entire lines to be printed at a time. Linotype printing was eventually succeeded by lithograph printing and computer typesetting during the 1960's and 1970's. This printing block was used by the Chicago-based, The Greek Art Printing Company. Zakynthos is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. The island is located off the northwest tip of the Peloponnese. The island is named after the son of a legendary Arcadian chief, Dardanus. The emblem on the printing block is most likely from an organization for Greek immigrants from the island of Zakynthos. Large numbers of Greek immigrants came to the United States during the 1920's and 1930's making it likely that such organizations would be formed to assist newly arrived immigrants.

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