This is a printing set popular with children in the early to mid 20th century. Its simple design made it easy to stamp short sentences by using the tweezers to insert the little rubber letters into the wooden blocks. The tiny rubber letters would be easily lost, however!

The John Bull name and image comes from a national personification of Great Britain, generally used in political cartoons and posters and originated in 1712 by Dr John Arbuthnot. Depicted as a stout, middle-aged man, often wearing a Union Flag waistcoat, he was popularised by British print makers in the 18th century, hence the association with children's printing sets.