The Begining of Letterpress

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Permalink Reply by kseniya on October 27, 2007 at 3:12pm

Hi! Great question. I had an internship at the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, Germany, when I graduated from college . . . before that, I never knew letterpress existed or even had passing thoughts about being a printer. After a while, though, I was hooked. I came back here, did my googling, and realized that letterpress was going on in the US in a big way, and that it was still possible to find presses, and, if you were lucky, run a business printing. So, I found one press, and then the other (both in barns, strangely), and started printing! I love working for myself, and all the scary fun that goes with that, making things from start to finish, and working with wonderful artists who make things I never could.

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Permalink Reply by A Punkin Card Company on October 27, 2007 at 3:53pm

Wow! That's an awesome story. I really want a press but I have no idea where to look. There is no way I could purchase one now, but maybe in a year. Is it easier to find and old one or a newer one?

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Permalink Reply by kseniya on October 27, 2007 at 4:13pm

Well, one (from 1925) I found on the Letpress listserv, and the other (from 1904) I found on eBay--it just happened to be within easy driving distance! Unless you want a Vandercook or other non-platen model, they're all pretty old. Platens are sort of un-loved because the take a little more time to get used to, but they're great for job presses--they're also a lot cheaper than flatbeds!

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Permalink Reply by Chrissie on January 13, 2008 at 3:26pm

My dad is a printer by trade. He has lived and breathed printing since he was 16. He used to have a letterpress set up when we lived in England. Now he is looking to purchase a press and I want to learn the craft. We live in Australia and it appears presses are more difficult to come by.

If anyone has any ideas or know of anyone selling a press in Australia (Sydney) - please let me know?

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Permalink Reply by Jane hancock papers on November 24, 2007 at 11:24am

I really liked letterpressed cards and such and after doing a couple of freelance design projects where I was able to talk the client into getting it letterpressed I decided I wanted to learn how myself. I found a local group that held workshopes every few months. After the class I walked away with some cute pieces and even though you could rent studio time it was quite a ways from where I lived so I scoured briarpress.org and ebay until I found a small Kelsey Victor table top and then most recently a large C&P. I love that after finishing my designs on the computer I am the one that can bring them to life with my press.

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Permalink Reply by Robin on January 12, 2008 at 12:01pm

I don't "letterpress", but I'm intrigued by the idea of it. Actually, until joining "etsy" I knew nothing about it, but I'm anxious to here more about the process.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah McMaster on March 10, 2008 at 5:00pm

I'll add my two cents.

I have always had a great love for printing, although I never had a printing press until recently. I am an avid reader, bookworm, and writer. I also love history and old things in general. I guess that at some point those two spheres of interest collided and I became an amateur letterpress printer, or a private press proprietor, as I think of myself. Although I do occasionally put up a few things on Etsy, I print for the enjoyment and creative process. I hope to contribute in some small way (or a big way) to keeping this time tested art alive. There is a lot to be said for printing a page of prose with your hands and tools and type and ink, rather than the impersonal click click of the computer keyboard...

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