Bowne & Co., Stationers at the South Street Seaport Museum in New York frequently produces beautiful letterpress keepsakes. This one from 1989, “Nineteenth Century Job Printing Display – The Poster” is a delightful little guide to the dos and don’ts. Using their enviable stock of metal types, 200 copies were printed on a Vandercook Universal I. the text was adapted from “The Letter-Preess Printer: A Complete Guide to the Art of Printing; Containing Practical Instructions for Learners at Case, Press and Machine” (London, 1881).
Last year I wrote about the possible closing of Bowne & Co. here, The shop is still functioning (at 211 Water St., NYC) and still printing: Announcement cards ($165 for 50), four-piece invitations ($1,085 for 100), and reception cards ($270 for 100),all printed on Crane & Co. paper. The “Friends of Bowne” are on Facebook. Read more about Bowne in the New York Times.
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Steven Heller is the co-chair of the SVA MFA Designer /Designer as Author + Entrepreneur program, writes frequently for Wired and Design Observer. He is also the author of over 170 books on design and visual culture. He received the 1999 AIGA Medal and is the 2011 recipient of the Smithsonian National Design Award.View all posts by Steven Heller →