Early 1900s French Bronze Medal Johannes Gutenberg & Printing Press L Deschamps
Description: A nice early 1900's bronze medal depicting the bust of Johannes Gutenberg the German inventor of the printing press. The medal depicts the bust of Gutenberg facing left, on the obverse, within a circle with the legend "JEAN GUTENBERG INVENTEUR DE L'IMPRIMERIE NE EN 1400 MORT EN 1468" along the edge surrounding the bust. The bust is also surrounded by stars, flowers, or snowflakes? There is the name "LEON DESCHAMPS" on the truncation f the bust. The reverse depicts the image of a printing press with the words "LA LUMIERE FUT" above it and the characters "J MCDXLI G" written on the press presumably the date the first printing press was used 1441. The edge of the medal has the word Bronze with a cornucopia (Paris Mint mark). The medal is large (75 mm) and weighs ~200 grams. It has a beautiful chocolate brown coloring with area of lighter brassy brilliance. A nice commemorative medal worthy of a spot in your collection. Please carefully review the photos as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: Medal is undated but known to have been issued in early 1900's (1902-1905).
Origin: Paris France.
Reference: Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut; Museum of Fine Art in Ghent Inv. 1911-AL.
Artist: Leon Dechamps (1860-1928).
Weight and Size: The medal is ~75 millimeters in diameter and is ~5.5 mm thick at the edge. The medal weighs 200 gm.
Maker: Paris Mint Marks: Marked BRONZE next to a cornucopia on the edge and has the name LEON DECHAMPS on the truncation of the bust on the obverse.
Condition: I would grade this medal as extremely fine or better with all its details being well preserved. The medal has dirt or dust embedded within the design and the words and has light wear to the highest points. The medal has all its details fairly well preserved and has a dark chocolate brown patina/color with areas showing the lighter brassy coloring on the front. The medal is lighter in color on the reverse. The medal has a minimum number of minor surface marks in the fields and is just great looking with very nice eye appeal. A nice commemorative medal to add to your collection. Please view photos for additional condition information.
