Antique Victorian late 19th century Jordan and sons heavy embossing or stamp. This lovely decorative item could be used as a door stop or paper weight. It has lovely gold leaf decoration.
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Some age related wear.
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16 cm wide
8 cm depth
20 cm tall
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Jordan and Sons Ltd. was a British company known for manufacturing embossing presses and seals, as well as being company registration agents, printers, and publishers. They were active at least between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with their embossing products typically dating from 1890-1925.
Company Overview
Primary Locations: They had a presence in London (Chancery Lane) for their publishing/registration activities and were associated with the "Beehive Works" in Bilston for their manufacturing operations.
Key Activities: The London branch specialized in services related to company formation, printing, and publishing. The Bilston works, previously associated with James Ralph & Co., focused on manufacturing items such as tinned and galvanized wrought iron hollow-ware, and later, vitreous enamelled advertising signs.
Embossing Presses: The company is widely recognized for its durable, cast-iron, desktop lever embossing presses used in offices to create paper seals on legal and official documents. These vintage embossers are now considered collector's items.
Historical Context
Origins: Records suggest the company was established around the late 1860s, with a mention of James Ralph & Company in an 1872 trade directory. By 1896, both "James A. Jordan" and "Ralph & Jordan" were listed in trade directories. The firm became known as J.A. Jordan & Sons Ltd. by 1924.
Industrial Links: The manufacturing side of the business was part of the local metalware industry in the West Midlands.
Reputation: The company was known for "high-quality and intricate designs" in their seal engraving work.
Today, the "Jordan and Sons" name is most often found on antique and vintage embossing presses and office equipment sold by collectors and on online marketplaces such as eBay and Etsy. The business appears to have evolved or been acquired over the years, and the original "Jordan and Sons Embossing" as a single entity is no longer operating in the same form.