MUST HAVE LETTERPRESS BOOKS –
Here is a list of some of our favorite letterpress books and must haves to any printers collection.
1. LETTERPRESS PRINTING – A manual for modern fine printers
First edition. Letterpress Printing is the comprehensive sourcebook for beginning and intermediate letterpress printers. Using clear explanations of technical terms and more than 80 illustrations, the manual describes presses, ink, paper, press operation, type and photopolymer plates. The book shows how to set up and run small and large platen presses, and Vandercook and Challenge-style hand cylinder presses. One chapter provides details about presses recommended by the author; another chapter explains how to equip and arrange a new letterpress shop. Also discussed is how to plan and design projects, how to move presses and equipment, and how to use lead and solvents safely. A discussion of recent trends helps the reader to understand the niche now occupied by the letterpress process and the techniques used by its practitioners. Includes one glossary of terms relating to paper, and another glossary of terms relating to printing. This is an up to date work for students and fine press printers wishing to sharpen their skills. Co-published by The British Library. Purchase
3. ARTISTIC PRINTING – A collection of Letterpress examples.
During the late nineteenth century, letterpress printers, engravers, and lithographers boldly challenged the rational sobriety of traditional design by introducing intricate borders, corner embellishments, quirky typefaces, and exotic imagery. The style was known as “artistic” and was quickly taken up by letterpress printers as the design idiom ofchoice for advertisements, packaging, and all of the other ephemera occasioned by the rapid expansion of America’s economy. For a while, this commercial style represented the best in popular taste. Purchase
4. THE PRINTMAKING BIBLE
Perennially popular, printmaking is enjoying a contemporary resurgence but no comprehensive up-to-date manual on the subject exists. At over 400 pages and packed with 1,000 full-color photos and illustrations, The Printmaking Bible is the definitive resource to the ins-and-outs of every variety of serious printmaking technique practiced today.In-depth instructions are accompanied by profiles that show how working artists create their prints. Historical information, troubleshooting tips, and an extensive resource section provide more invaluable tools. Perfect for students, artists, print aficionados, and collectors, this is truly the ultimate volume for anyone involved in this creative and influential art form. Purchase
5. LETTERPRESS NOW- A DIY guide to new & old printing methods
At last–a contemporary how-to reference on letterpress, a traditional craft that’s experiencing a huge resurgence! Not only does Letterpress Now explain how to use a variety of presses, it also covers an amazing range of techniques, all with step-by-step photos: setting metal and wood type, lino/relief block prints, photopolymer plates, die-cuts, and more. About twenty eye-catching projects, from cards and calendars to masks, posters, and business cards–plus features on some of the best letterpress artists and community print shops–make this guide indispensable. Purchase