Bytown Bookshop » Private Press

Number 52 Letterpress

Richard — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:03:15 +0000

Came across this new blog by the Number 52 Letterpress out in Langley, BC. Only a few posts so far, but some great pictures of their shop set up and printed goodies for Christmas (wish I was on their list!). Looks like they also work a lot with wood type which always brings out the fun and creative side of letterpress.

Wouldn’t it be Murder?

Richard — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:56:13 +0000

We recently acquired a copy of the Cheshire Cat Press’ Wouldn’t it be Murder, a wonderful letterpress book illustrated with engravings by George Walker and printed at the Poole Hall Press. The book contains the talk Alice scholar and enthusiast Joseph Brabant presented to the Lewis Carroll Society of North America at its first meeting in Canada, on May 12, 1990. The talked explored the question, from a humorous legal view of the situation, as to whether or not it would be murder if Alice left the Duchess’ child behind after the Duchess tossed it to her.

This fine copy is one of a limited 177 copies (as with all Cheshire Cat Press editions). But unlike other copies I’ve seen, it is signed by the artist George Walker and has an additional Alice engraving tipped onto the blank opposite the title page.

Letterpress Gazette #9 – January 2012

Richard — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:26:22 +0000

The first Letterpress Gazette of 2012 is out and it is a stellar issue as always complete with articles on the Chappel, Setting Type, and the 2012 Ottawa Press Gang collective project. This issue also comes with a little ephemera packet filled with bookmarks, engravings and other goodies.

Hand-set and printed at the Weathervane Press, the Letterpress Gazette is a limited edition (usually around 50-60 copies) quarterly publication of the Ottawa Press Gang. If you are interested in specific issues (current and past), or an annual subscription, please contact me at info@bytownbookshop.ca for pricing.

Ducks in a Row Press

Richard — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:31:38 +0000

Ducks in a Row Press is the new letterpress imprint in town. Book artist and calligrapher Nancy Trottier moved to Deep River (about 2.5hrs northwest of Ottawa) about a year ago, but has just recently acquired a beautiful 8×12 Challenge Gordon Press playfully dubbed “Ned”. Check out the great books she’s been making on her website, and her post on the reception of “Ned” into their home is wonderful (and well illustrated!).

Nancy has also become a member of the Ottawa Press Gang, and has already been busy sharing great news articles and resources. Very much looking forward to meeting her at a future Press Gang meeting.

First Two Books in a New Series from Frog Hollow Press

Richard — Tue, 10 May 2011 22:35:19 +0000

Literary Criticism Monographs
a new chapbook series from Frog Hollow Press

Frog Hollow Press is proud to announce the start of a new series on literary criticism with the simultaneous release of the first two titles:

Fatherhood: The Poetry of Wayne Clifford by Shane Neilson
(ISBN 978-1-926948-01-0 – 36 pp. – CA$15)

Proofs & Equational Love: The Poetry of Jim Johnstone by Jason Guriel and Shane Neilson
(ISBN 978-1-926948-02-7 – 32 pp. – CA$15)

These limited edition books – 100 copies each – have been printed on 80-lb. acid-free and archival Mohawk Superfine Text. The text blocks have been hand-sewn into covers of acid-free Canson Mi-Teintes; flyleafs are of handmade Nepalese Lokta.

Visit Frog Hollow Press to order copies or become a press subscriber.

Margaret Lock Interview on Nigel Beale’s New Site: The Literary Tourist

Richard — Sun, 01 May 2011 23:08:05 +0000

Nigel recently released this wonderful interview he did with Kingston letterpress printer, teacher and author Margaret Lock on her private press. Great blog and photos of Lock’s work accompany the interview and give a great visual to the incredible work she have done over the years.

I would also encourage everyone to check out Nigel’s new site The Literary Tourist, which has loads of great content, photos and info on thousands of bookstore across the globe in order to help people plan their next literary destination. A marvellous idea, and excellent site to make it happen.

The Spring Letterpress Gazette is Here!

Richard — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 02:58:16 +0000

The latest Letterpress Gazette is now available with a great article on early printing in Nova Scotia, and one of the largest text linocuts I think I’ve ever seen (well executed Stephen!). And as always, there are a couple of extra goodies tucked in with the Gazette as well.

If you are interested in the latest issue of the Gazette, back issues, or an annual subscription, e-mail me at info@bytownbookshop.ca for pricing and orders.

An Odd New Book from Heavenly Monkey

Richard — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:43:44 +0000

ODDBALLS
Wood engravings by Jim Westergard of (in)famous people
Introduction by Barry Moser

Oddballs, a series of 40 wood engravings of curious and infamous historical personages, is planned for release in early summer 2011. Details on the book and it’s progress can be followed on the Heavenly Monkey website and a PDF copy of the prospectus can be found here.

As a fun little side note, the edition will be bound here in Ottawa at Natasha Herman’s Redbone Bindery.

Graven Images

Richard — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:30:00 +0000

The Bytown Bookshop has now received copies of The Greyweathers Press’ latest letterpress effort Graven Images: A Portfolio of Nineteenth Century Wood Engravings Printed from the Original Blocks. A beautifully crafted book highlighting the workmanship of three 19th century wood engravers, who’s block were unearthed just a few years ago and inked for the first time in over a century.

The book has been printed by hand on Canson Mi-Teintes paper in an edition of 100 copies. Included in the edition are thirteen mounted wood engravings, hand printed on Fabriano Accademia paper. The type is Italian Oldstyle. Foreword by the printer, L.F. Thompson.

Dimensions 9.25 x 12 inches, 30 pages including 14 plates. Quarter bound in cloth and paper. Price $160.

We have only two of these limited edition books available at the shop, so if you are interested, be sure to send us an e-mail. I would also highly recommend visiting the Greyweathers Press website to follow how printer Larry Thompson brought these old blocks back to life and wove them into a wonderful glimpse of 19th century engraving and design.

New Kelmscott Chaucer Book

Richard — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:24:36 +0000

A new book written by the Kelmscott scholarly duo, William and Sylvia Peterson, will be available from Oak Knoll Books in April and looks to be a must for any Kelmscott enthusiast. The Kelmscott Chaucer: A Census is an amazingly indepth look at Morris’ masterpiece, tracking down and analysing the history as many of the 425 copies printed as possible creating a wonderful series of reconstructed histories of the great book’s copies in circulation. A touch pricey at $95, but well worth it for the level of detail put into this gem.