What are "plates" when referring to Walt Whitman?

Question: What are "plates" when referring to Walt Whitman!?

What are "plates" when referring to the plates made for the "deathbed edition" of Leaves of the Grass by Walt Whitman!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

"Plates" refer to the piece of metal on which the text was engraved!. The paper pages are basically pressed against the inked plate and voila! you have a printed page!.Www@QuestionHome@Com