This bench-top Albion No. 1930 was made by Hopkinson and Cope of London in 1845. Its wooden stand is original. The press has a height of 38 inches a width, at the cheeks, of 19 inches and a length of 38 inches. The stand measures 27 inches high and 33.5 inches long; the platen measures 9.5 inches by 15 inches. The press is marked on the frame, bar, and brass sleeve with “Hopkinson & Cope, Finsbury London,” “No. 1930 1845,” and “Patent No 2289.” It is stamped in various places “Patent,” with a crown.
The Albion was an English press invented by Richard Whittaker Cope of London. The date of the invention is not known, but the first record of the press dates from 1822, when some Albions were imported into France. The Albion had a different form of toggle levers from American presses, and a large spring on top of the press for the return of the platen. Presumably the name “Albion”—a poetic name describing the island of Great Britain—was chosen in response to the Columbian, which had recently arrived from America. The Albion was advertised as being lighter and less bulky than rival, English iron presses, such as the Stanhope. It had ample power, particularly in the smaller sizes, and became the most popular hand press in Great Britain, as the Washington came to be in the United States.
At Richard Cope’s death, in about 1830, his company was taken over
by John Hopkinson working under J. & J. Barrett, trustees of Cope’s estate. For ten years all three names were cast into the press, but after 1840 the style became simply “Hopkinson & Cope.” Hopkinson introduced some improvements, notably the modification of the toggle form and the addition of the word “Patent” (a claim apparently without foundation). By mid-century there were several other makers using Hopkinson’s improved toggles. Albions were made in Great Britain continuously until as late as 1940.
Albions were not regularly imported into the United States until the twentieth century, when they were brought in by collectors.
Donated by Jack Murphy, 1991.
Citation: Elizabeth Harris, "Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection," 1996.
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