Letterpress, a Chinese invention from the 10th century consisting of movable types and later adopted in the western hemisphere about 1440, forever changed the face of communication and the speed in which information could be passed along from person to person. It gave birth to the "press." Today letterpress is in revival and widely used in books, posters, bespoke stationery like invitations, name cards, letterheads and so on. Letterpress designers like Alan Kitching or Jesus Morentin carve out their names in the computer-generated design world with beautifully-composed types. This book introduces the history and the process of letterpress printing and includes a list of classic movable types arranged in style order. The volume also includes letterpress designers, artists, type foundries, institutions, or even museums from all over the world, each with a detailed biography as well as exclusive interviews with the most relevant professionals in this area. It will prove to be a handbook for type designers, letterpress designers, type lovers, design students and ordinary readers who enjoy crafts and prints.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.