REBECCA E SPITZER

We’re working on broadsides this month in my book arts studio course; I’m printing a series of quotes about journalism from G Stuart Adam’s essay, “Notes Towards a Definition of Journalism” in Caslon. Of course, I’m using tiny type and setting tons of text. (It may seem as if I like to make my life difficult, but it’s really just what I thought looked the best. So what if it takes forever? It’s worth it.) I have such a greater respect for letterpress after this project; it took me around five hours to set all the type and another five to get it into the press and print. I’m doing a second color run on top of this black run next week; I’ll post updates then!

Finishing up setting my ornaments into my text block. I set all the other type last week.

My black run and my color run next to each other in the bed of the press.

Only the black run now, being blocked into the press with metal and wooden furniture.

Ready to proof!

My two proofs runs.

So many mistakes to fix! Apparently, I always mix up n and u.

First real broadside coming off the press!

Stepping back before I run the other 39 sheets.

Finished pile of drying broadsides. Now, for color! I’m thinking a deep colbalt.