Stamp, Leather
Stamp of Brother James X. Smith, Church Family, Mount Lebanon, NY
Description
Die-stamp of a heavy metal, roughly eight-sided. Raised, 1/8" high letters read "Jas. X. SMITH". Stamped on its side with the inscription "B.C. True/Albany."
Notes
This, along with other stamps in the collection (#1950.1683.1, 1950.1684.1, 1950.1405.1, 1950.1404.1), were used to mark either leather, metal, or wood. The stamps with flat heads and letters carved in relief, "J.D." and "LC," came to the Museum in a box containing leather working tools. They would have made an impression of raised letters over a flat background. The other three stamps, including this one, would have left impressions of their letters in the metal or leather stamped. This "Jas. X. Smith" stamp belonged to James Smith (1764-1848) and is itself stamped on its side with the inscription "B.C. True/Albany," the manufacturer and die cutter.'
Blog post that discusses this piece: https://shakerml.org/jas-x-smith/
New York Mount Lebanon Church Family
