For the Love of Letterpress: A Printing Handbook for Instructors and Students

by Cathie Ruggie Saunders, Martha Chiplis

Conveying the authors' love of the letterpress process and product, this book presents the technical, historical, aesthetic and practical information necessary for both students and instructors.

The 2nd edition of For the Love of Letterpress includes an updated gallery of contemporary images of letterpress printing, as well as a new chapter of letterpress assignments from the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. Both additions attest to the dynamic and continued relevance of the media.

The authors show how contemporary digital processes have expanded the boundaries of traditional letterpress. By writing with passion and experience, they indicate why a 15th century printing technology based upon crafting with one's hands, still has appeal and value to 21st century artists and designers.

Whether incorporated into an academic curriculum or used for self-study, For the Love of Letterpress is a must for students who wish to learn letterpress and instructors seeking inspiration and reference.

Genres: Design

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2013

Reviews

[Linda]

Interesting to anyone learning letterpress. The text is useful but not terribly engaging writing. The photos are great and I wish some of the images had been reproduced at a larger size -- I kept taking my hand and making the pinch-enlarge motion one would use on a touchscreen; alas, that does not work. I loved the chapter that reproduced some inventive class assignments and a section on texture. All things considered, pretty good.

[Anne Harm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be outstanding, on many levels; frank and matter-of-fact in its approach to instruction, it thoroughly inspires and encourages comraderie, creative brainstorming and improvisation in solving various problems that tend to arise in the practice of letterpress printing. I always looked forward to reading it; the images and ideas stayed with me between readings. The wide range of visual examples are quite beautiful and meaningful to understanding the range of what has been done, and inspiring what could be done in the future. Ruggie-Saunders' and Chiplis' students are lucky to study with them, and the book is well-named. It does a wonderful job of investigating, illuminating, building upon and sharing the love of letterpress with a wider audience -- brightly, clearly, respectfully.

[Mills College Library]

686.2312 S2572 2013