We are thrilled to be celebrating our 5th anniversary at Copper Willow.  Everyday, we enjoy working with beautiful paper, vintage printing presses and creative clientele.  We love what we do and it's probably about time we share the ins and outs of our hands-on studio! 

Every Thursday we'll be writing about the art of letterpress, the creativity involved in being green, and the ins and outs of running a paper studio.

But to start, you have to go back to the beginning - so here's a little history of letterpress!

Before the invention of the printing press, the reproduction of the written word was done by hand, in monasteries.  Talk about a hand cramp!  The remaining books now are priceless works of art and you can imagine why.  Making books this way was really expensive, so only the wealthy were able to read.  Enter the printing press to bring the written word to the masses!
In 1457 Gutenberg invented the first printing press with moveable type.  So each letter was carved separately and could be plunked in and out to reuse and create endless letter combinations.  Gutenberg lived in Germany in the wine region, so he created the press with the same operation concept as the presses used for juicing grapes.
Fun fact - as early as 1564, sea vessels used to travel with a letterpress on board!  They documented the journey and was used for printing poetry, the bible and maritime dictionaries.  The first press came to California via boat mid-19th century.
Eventually the process of using this raised type, rolling ink over it and squashing it to paper became the most popular method of printing until about the 1950's. 

Not much has changed either, letters can still be created from woodcuts, photoengraved copper, linoleum blocks, magnesium plates, and zinc or photopolymer plates.  Paper can be fibrous or smooth, machine or mold made.  And of course the ink rolls over the letters and presses into the paper by hand today.  New to the scene: the much sought-after deep impression that has made letterpress printing an artform. 

We have 3 machines on site and are happy to demonstrate the use of our little guy - an 8x12 Chandler and Price.  Even more curious?  Take a workshop and get a little taste of printing yourself!
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