How Type is Made, Part 1

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How Type is Made, Part 1

Traditional letterpress printing requires physical letters, cast from metal or carved from wood, which get inked and pressed into paper to make a print. In the next two blog posts, we’ll take an introductory look into how these letters get made.

First up, metal type!

A typecaster of centuries past, pouring molten metal into a mould to cast new letters. (Courtesy of the The University of Manchester Library.)

A typecaster of centuries past, pouring molten metal into a mould to cast new letters. (Courtesy of the The University of Manchester Library.)

Johann Gutenberg’s big Ah-HA! moment in the 15th century was figuring out how to create multiple letters with which to print, and print again and again — a system of “movable type,” where each piece is cast in a mould from an alloy of metals (lead, tin, and antimony). These pieces, all the letters and numbers and punctuation, etc., of the alphabet, could be used and reused — a huge savings of time, effort, and expense compared to the work of scribes!

Metal type wears down over time, because it is relatively soft, and gets scratched or dinged easily. Thankfully for us 21st century printers, some hardy folks are still casting brand new metal type!

Here's a short (1:58), awesome little video by Dave Keyes of Michael Curry casting 48pt Garamond ampersands on his caster in New Zealand:

And here’s another little window into the world of typecasting, courtesy of Michael and Winifred Bixler, who operate their Bixler Letterfoundry in upstate New York, and who have cast much of the new type we have here at St Brigid Press. This beautiful 2-minute video was done by Mary M Jones:

Some of our type comes from a wonderful foundry in Germany, run by the renowned Herr Rainer Gerstenberg. Click the photo below to see an excellent photo-tour of Gerstenberg's foundry, taken by letterpress printer and teacher Thomas Gravemaker.

The beautiful Koch-Antiqua typeface, cast for us by Rainer Gerstenberg in Germany, here printed for the colophon of our limited edition book of poems, Soundings. Click the photo for more about Gerstenberg's foundry.

The beautiful Koch-Antiqua typeface, cast for us by Rainer Gerstenberg in Germany, here printed for the colophon of our limited edition book of poems, Soundings. Click the photo for more about Gerstenberg's foundry.

So, would YOU like to order some shiny new type?? Here's a list of foundries ready to take your order!

List of Type Foundries in the US and Abroad

Thanks for joining us, friends! We'll see you again soon,

St Brigid Press

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Printing With Plants

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Printing With Plants

Hi Friends of St Brigid Press!

We're rolling along in our production of our new chapbook, Reverie, which launches next Sunday the 20th at Black Swan Books (3pm to 5pm, if you're in the neighborhood!). At the moment, we are enjoying illustrating the pages with original nature prints from the grasses that grow in the meadow at the Press.

Here's a sneak peek at today's print process, working with the lovely little meadow flower, Pennsylvania Bittercress.

Just last week, our field began to bloom with the tiny white petals of Cardamine pensylvanica, Pennsylvania Bittercress. 

We decided the Bittercress would make a delightful accompaniment to the first poem in the book.

Next we hand-mixed a sweet spring green color, gently pressed the Bittercress into the ink, and carefully transferred the inked cutting to the page of poetry.

Lifting off the Bittercress, reveals its subtle image. Next up: clover and wild onion!

Thanks for joining us!

If you can't make it to the look launch on March 20th, but are interested in purchasing this limited edition book, please see HERE.

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Printing a Poem on the Handpress

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Printing a Poem on the Handpress

One of our chief passions here at the Press is traditional letterpress printing — using some of the techniques, equipment, and materials that have been used since Johannes Gutenberg and his team first developed moveable type and printing presses in Europe around 1450. 

We enjoy being a part of that long historical lineage, learning the skills and passing along the wonder of the printed word. Our latest project, a little chapbook of poems called “Reverie,” has given us the opportunity to produce a book entirely on the circa-1915 iron handpress, affectionally named “Ben” (for Ben Franklin, of course). 

Here is a series of photos that will walk you through the printing of one sheet of one poem for this one book. By the time we finish the edition, we will have enacted this same process about 1,260 times. Good thing we love what we do!

All best to all, 

St Brigid Press

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A Letterpress Lexicon, Part 2

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A Letterpress Lexicon, Part 2

Hi, Friends of St Brigid Press!

Here is the second installment in our occasional blog series about the words and phrases that identify printing's particular tools and processes ~ A Letterpress Lexicon. Enjoy!

(If you missed Part 1, you can find it HERE.)

Today's 3 words are

TYPECASE, TYPESETTING, and COMPOSING STICK

TYPECASE:  A typecase is a wooden tray, divided up into numerous small compartments, in which the letters, numbers, and punctuation of a font of type are organized and stored. 

TYPESETTING:  This refers to the action of composing words from the individual pieces of type. A printer reaches into their typecase, picks up the desired letter, and literally "sets" it in place beside the last letter placed. 

COMPOSING STICK:  This is the tool that holds the pieces of type that are being set (or, "composed"). Usually made of brass or steel, the composing stick is held in the non-dominant hand while the typesetter lines up each desired letter. The stick is adjustable, according to how long the line of type needs to be. 

And here's a little video to put these three words together!

Thanks so much for joining us on this journey into the World of Letterpress!

If you haven't already, take a second to sign up below for our occasional newsletter, which features posts like this one, as well as updates on our printing projects here at St Brigid Press.



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Happy St Brigid's Day!

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Happy St Brigid's Day!

Yeah, we've heard of St Patrick.

But the big holiday around here is February 1st, 

the Feast Day of St Brigid of Ireland!

Who was Brigid?

Ah, there are as many stories as there are pints of Guinness to tell them over. But here are a few to get you started:

  • Celebrated as the Goddess of Fire in early Celtic times, and later as the Christian saint of the Perpetual Flame.

  • St Brigid was born, they say, in 453 in County Louth. Died February 1st at Kildare.

  • Had a passion for helping the hungry and the cold.

  • Established convents all over Ireland.

  • Celebrated on the Feast of St Brigid, in early February, the beginning of the old pre-Christian festival of Spring in Ireland.

  • Patron saint of dairymaids, fugitives, blacksmiths, nuns, sailors, and POETS and PRINTING PRESSES!

For more about Brigid, goddess and saint, see these links:

Why St Brigid Press?

Well, we were pretty sure we couldn’t go wrong with having the patron saint of poets and printing presses on our side! Plus, the founder of the Press, Emily Hancock, is a lass with Celtic lineage ;-)

Hear Emily talk about her choice of Brigid for the name of the Press, with NPR’s Martha Woodroof ~

http://wmra.org/post/web-extra-where-name-came

 

Thanks so much for joining in our joy today!

 

"The wearin' o' the Green" -- INK, that is!

Yeah, we repainted our old typecases green ;-)  Partly out of self-defense ~ when we found them, they were a horrid hodgepodge of colors, from neon orange to red and black. Ack!

We print a LOT of things in green... Here, on some gorgeous antique wood type.

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"When Love Speaks..." ~ Shakespeare on Press

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"When Love Speaks..." ~ Shakespeare on Press

“There’s nobody like The Bard
for putting Love into language.”
— E. H.

Which is why we’ve created these beautiful Book-Lover’s Bundles for your loved ones on Valentine’s Day ~

A three-part gift for the Heart, each bundle features the following:

~ A card (with envelope), designed and letterpress printed on lovely cotton paper with these lines from William Shakespeare: “I do love nothing in the world so much as you.”

~ A bookmark, likewise designed and printed here at the Press to match the card, with another gem from Shakespeare: “If music be the food of love, play on.”

~ A handmade journal, 7”x5” and over 100 pages, with covers of decorative handmade paper from Nepal and interiors of soft-white bamboo paper. Hand-sewn here with Irish linen thread.

May this gift help honor and celebrate the Gift of Love for you and yours this Valentine’s season!

All the best,

St Brigid Press

“Yet, do thy worst, old Time: despite thy wrong,
my love shall in my verse ever live young.”
— William Shakespeare (Sonnet XIX)

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A Letterpress Lexicon, Part 1

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A Letterpress Lexicon, Part 1

Hi, dear Friends of St Brigid Press,

As many of you know, I love language. And one of the things that has been exceedingly enjoyable about learning the craft of traditional printing is learning its associated lexicon ~ the words and phrases that identify printing's particular tools and processes.

In this occasional blog series, "A Letterpress Lexicon," I thought I'd share with you some of my favorites. Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today's three words are

CHASE, FURNITURE, and QUOIN

CHASE:  A chase is an iron or steel rectangular frame into which the type to be printed is placed. After the type is secured, the chase is lifted into the bed of the printing press, the type is inked, and an impression is made upon paper.

FURNITURE:  Wooden or metal furniture is used to surround the block of type within the chase, taking up any extra space between type and chase edge. Wooden furniture, such as we use here at St Brigid Press, is traditionally made from kiln-dried hardwoods, and comes in standard sizes to fit the job.

QUOIN:  A quoin is an adjustable metal wedge used to tighten and "lock" the type and furniture in the chase. Although there are a variety of styles, all quoins operate with the basic principle of applying pressure to secure the form, allowing the chase to be safely lifted into the printing press.

And here's a short little video that puts all these pieces together!

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News from St Brigid Press!

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News from St Brigid Press!

Greetings from the blustery Blue Ridge Mountains!

Though the warm sun is drizzled all over us today like honey, the empty trees and biting breeze signal winter’s steady approach, here in the Rockfish River Valley. At St Brigid Press, we’re also moving into a new season of work, hunkering down with several longer chapbook projects and a new series of prints. 

Speaking of books, we are thrilled to announce that Emily Hancock’s collection of haiku & carvings, Soundings, recently won a prestigious award at the Oxford Fine Press Book Fair in England. This volume, letterpress printed and hand-bound here at the Press, took home the Oxford Guild of Printers’ 2015 Prize for Best Fine Press Book under £50. 

We are very honored to receive this award. Hopefully some day we can travel to Oxford in person to attend this yearly gathering of fine printers and bookbinders — the oldest fair of its kind in the world.

Created in a limited edition of just 85 books, Soundings is nearly sold out. If you are interested in reserving a copy, please let us know. For more information and photographs, click HERE.

Our current stock of holiday cards and gift tags is likewise dwindling. See available items HERE.

In the meantime, peace and pace to you all!

With thanks,

St Brigid Press 

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Autumn News from St Brigid Press

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Autumn News from St Brigid Press

Autumn greetings to you all!

Here in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, we are filled with gratitude today for the return of the Sun. After days and days of rain, our star broke its bright yellow yolk all over the field this morning, and we saw crystal-blue sky for the first time in 10 days. Thinking especially of folks in South Carolina, we send good thoughts for peace and safety for all who have been affected by flood waters recently.

These chilly days and night have put us in an autumnal mood, and we’re eying the calendar-full of celebrations that are just around the corner! With this in mind, we’ve been printing and packaging our beautiful letterpress printed holiday cards, and are offering them to you loyal Press Newsletter Subscribers first, before we deliver the cards to area markets later this week.

As always, these items are one-of-a-kind and limited in edition. Let us know if you’d like to reserve your holiday cards and gift tags asap!

With many thanks, and all best to you!

St Brigid Press

"Peace Be" Holiday Cards

  • mountains-and-stars print from a hand-carved block by Emily Hancock
  • letterpress printed with vintage wood & metal type on our foot-treadled press
  • thick 100% cotton paper
  • blank white inside
  • single card (with envelope), $4.95
  • set-of-6 cards (with envelopes), $23

"Peace" Holiday Cards

  • "Peace" greeting, printed with vintage metal type on our treadle-press
  • medium-weight metallic linen paper, in emerald-silver or crimson-silver
  • blank white inside
  • set-of-6 cards (with envelopes & address labels), $15

Holiday Gift Tags

  • letterpress printed with metal type on our foot-treadled press
  • extra-thick 100% cotton paper, in a soft cream
  • holiday greeting on front, "To:" & "From:" on back
  • raffia tie for attaching to gifts
  • choose from one of 6 designs, or an assorted set
  • $8.95 for a set-of-6 tags

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Summer News from St Brigid Press

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Summer News from St Brigid Press

Greetings, Friends!

Summer is in full-swing here at the Press, and we have a few new projects to debut: 

  • Blue Bird Greeting Cards
  • HIKE Virginia Postcards
  • Gone Fishin' Coasters

When we first spied this wonderful ornament of swallows in flight, we knew it had to be a feature on our next greeting card project. Not only do the birds appear on each design, we decided to name the whole line after them ~ Blue Bird Greeting Cards!

Available in two styles at the moment, "thinking of you" and "happiest of days," these letterpress printed cards can carry your well wishes near and far.

~

Next up: postcards!

Inspired by the natural beauty out the Press's front door, we've created two postcards that celebrate Virginia's mountains:

Each are USPS-compliant, and come pre-paid ~ all you have to do is pen and send!

~

Lastly, here is our brand new coaster design, perfect for slipping under a drink at the end of a lazy summer day by the river:

Found in the back of an old typecase, we love this vintage copper print block! And, as with all of our coasters, these are extra-thick, color-fast, and biodegradable.

~

Thanks for taking a look at what's happening at the Press this summer! If you'd like to see more photos and information about these items, please see the listing on our Products page!

All best to all,

St Brigid Press

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