Changing Times, 1956—1975
Craftspeople of the private press world still continue to use time-honored techniques even though technology has marched ahead. Most of the tools and presses exhibited throughout Lasting Impressions are hand operated and used for letterpress work, a raised-surface system of printing that remained little changed from the time of Johann Gutenberg until the early 20th century. Letterpress was replaced for most commercial use by offset lithography by the 1950s.
Shown here is an evolution of presses used by New Mexico fine printers.
(click panel to explore)