Rare LEGO 1960/70s Printing Stamp for set 140 (model #4)

[Cristina08]

Hello everyone.

I'm new to this forum so not sure if i am posting this in the correct place!

I have recently become the new owner of this cool official LEGO item - and i would love to find out more information about, what its worth and how many of them are about! I've only seen 3 others like this (on another forum on brickpicker) but i'm struggling to find anymore information about it!

The stamp reads "more excitement from lego" and i have been told it is an ink stamp for a 140 set model (model #4)... http://peeron.com/cg...s/140-2/15?ct=1

Here is a photograph of my stamp - i tried to upload but the file was too big but hopefully this link will work :)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/123608874@N03/

I look forward to hearing any comments or advice about this item!

Thanks,

Cristina.

[Rufus]

Hi Christina, and welcome to Eurobricks!

I can't help you with the stamp, I'm afraid, but I can help with posting images from flickr:

Click the picture on your photostream. Then click the three dots on the far right ('More Actions'); select 'Download/All Sizes', then click 'View All Sizes', then select 'Medium 800' which is the maximum size permitted on this board.

Right-click on the image, select 'Copy Image Location' (or similar).

Post the URL between image tags, like this:

[img=https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5567/14105457436_dca3cbe024_c.jpg]

Hope that helps, and good luck with the stamp.

[1974]

The model is from the 241 Idea Book, page 7 (EB won't let me link to the pic?) :

http://www.peeron.com/scans/241-1/7

Edit : Oh, it's also an official model? I was just looking through the 241 some hours ago and thus remebered it

How big is it?

Cheers,

Ole

Edited May 16, 2014 by 1974

[Phrea]

The guy linked below will probably know !

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showuser=1550

[sorry, I forgot how to integrate a link into text !]

[Cristina08]

Thank you all for the replies!

The stamp is approximately 3" x 4" and is a metal stamp attached to a wooden block but i am unsure whether this is its original back?

Phrea, i cannot follow your link unfortunately, what is the guys name you are referring to? I have spoken to another person from Germany who has 2 other similar stamps but he has not had the time yet to look at my photograph etc so i was looking to see what other people knew about it!

I've had a number of different LEGO official memorabilia in the past including the 16" tall LEGO minifigure and a sterling silver pendant! I'm very interested to learn more about this item and also what sort of value it would have!

Thanks all once again and i look forward to hearing what more people know about it!!

Cristina.

[62Bricks]

This is called a "print block" or sometimes a "printing block" or "printer's block." There are categories on eBay for vintage and antique print blocks. These were used in printing newspaper advertisements, brochures, catalogs, etc.

I don't see any other LEGO print blocks listed on eBay right now, but I notice that advertising print blocks for other well-known brands often sell in the $50 range.

It's difficult to tell how thick the wood block is from the photo, but if it is original the whole block will be at "type height," which is just under one inch. I don't know if having the original wood block affects the collectibility or value.

The print block would have been made at a type foundry from artwork supplied by LEGO, probably. It may have been used by LEGO for its own products, or it may have been used by a retailer like Sears in printing its own advertisements or catalogs. One thing I notice is that the block is complete - the entire image is present and it is shaded with cross-hatching. That means it was meant to be printed all in one color, probably black. That suggests to me it was used in a simple advertisement probably in a newspaper or one-color flyer and not in a full-color booklet or catalog.

It's a neat item. One thing to be aware of, though, is that the metal is probably a mixture of lead and tin. Definitely not something to let kids play with! And wash your hands well after handling it.

[Cristina08]

Wow thank you for that! you seem to know alot about this item!! I might be interested in selling it in the near future but at the moment i just have it on display! :)

[LEGO Historian]

Hiya! That "1550" guy is me.... Christina08 and I have already become acquainted brickpicker! Christine, did you want me to contact Henk (the owner of the other ink stamps) again? He's been real busy as of late... but a friendly reminder won't hurt....

[Cristina08]

Hello again! Yes maybe that is a good idea, i messaged him a few days ago and he said he was very busy and needed more time... so i was leaving it as to not annoy him with questions!! Do you think he might try to buy this from me? He didn't seem too interested but maybe it is just because hes very busy! Thanks again!

[LEGO Historian]

Alright Cristina.... I'll contact him (and about a dozen other collectors).... and see who is interested in that stamp. That 140 set is quite a quirky set, so I think someone will be interested in it.

[Cristina08]

Thank-you so much thats very kind of you!