Notes on Letterpress

How did it all begin?  The history of letterpress printing formally begins in the 1440s, when Johann Guttenberg invented the printing press as a way to bring books to the general public. His most famous work, the Guttenberg Bible, took a team of 20 printers between 2-3 years to complete. Whew, what a task.

While this form of printing, a relief imprint on paper through the use of metal type, spacers and Guttenberg’s very own ink recipe (made of soot, walnut oil and turpentine), was the cornerstone of printing for 350 years, it was ultimately replaced in large scale printing by the faster, less labor-intensive styles of lithography and later, offset printing.

Fine press printers, craftspeople, and artists kept the technique alive out of a love for the process. Curveball… Enter Martha Stewart. In the 1990s she featured letterpress printing for her elegant wedding invitations, and the modern stationery movement was born.

Today the art of letterpress printing is seen as a craft that harkens back to a time when skill was the order of the day.  The imprinted designs beg to be touched and the use of thick, high quality paper bring an unrivaled quality to every project.

We hope you enjoyed this Cliff’s Notes© version of letterpress printing.  And, the next time you see the technique used in beautiful greeting cards, stationery, and artwork, you’ll understand and appreciate the time, effort, and love that goes into their creation.

With much enthusiasm,

Mistie & Molly