MYSTERY STEEL BLOCK.

[Sinann]

I don't know anything about Royal Orders but I would think the Order would be the only people allowed to use the Collar image.
Funny thing is I can see the Collar surrounding the Royal Coat of Arms but can't see an example of it used with the Ireland Coat of Arms and Crest, except your die.

Perhaps the printers did a lot more than postcards and had contracts with the various Royal Orders.

[Wexflyer]

The die depicts the full "achievement" of the arms of Ireland. An heraldic full achievement consists of the arms, plus crest, plus any orders. A full achievement should also include supporters, if available, but Ireland does not have such. In any case, as all the elements in this example are purely Irish, e.g. not the British royal arms or crests as such, it is clearly meant to convey "Ireland" and not GB, or UK.  To me the most likely possibility is simply that it was the primary decoration on an "Irish" postcard.  An alternative to shamrocks and wolfhounds, etc. etc. Perhaps others can think of other possibilities.

 

[Scribble1952]

Maybe "a Die  for a Victorian Belt Plate.

[John915]

Good morning,

Maybe "a Die  for a Victorian Belt Plate.

NO WAY.

John915

[Scribble1952]

In reply to Dathai the sit down press with a safety gate
In front did you also use that type.
 Would that type be used for embossing😊

[dathai]

Hi Scribble
               never used any other than the one similar to the photo, there was no safety gate on the one i used just a sliding aperature similar to where you would insert drawers into a cabinet these held the dyes top and bottom.

Dathai

[Scribble1952]

Thanks for your reply,I know which one you mean the one at a time swinging arm. 
Nicknamed the,
"Incredible Hulk"💪

 Or put in a jig punched with holes to suit the number plate and hard plastic numbers or letters used in the holes and fastened down with a punch ring.😊

[BallyaltikilliganG]

Frederick Charles Southwood, 96 Regent Street, London.
described as fancy stationer in Post Office London Directory 1895. [Part 2: Street Directory]  source http://cdm16445.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16445coll4

The National Archives COPY 1/453/386
describes several photographs as per this example a ‘Photograph [of] child......   Copyright owner of work: Frederick Charles Southwood, 96 Regent Street, London. Copyright author of work: Alexander Corbett, 36 Rutland Park Mansions, Willesden Green, London. Form completed: 18 November 1901. Registration stamp: 1901 November 19. the form emanates from Records of the Copyright Office, Stationers' Company.

in the 1911 census he describes himself as Artistic Stationer, living with family at 105 Abbey Road St Johns Wood Nw Parish Hampstead. I wonder if the block could well be copyrighted and the author of the work might be named?

[ThrelfallYorky]

I too am sure that it was for embossing in some way. Most of us probably have somewhere a book where instead of a psted in bookplate there is a raised, stamped image, and there are several ways it could be used, located in different "machines" for the task.
It most certainly isn't for printing in with type.