By Ethan Heusser
Collection Overview
Title: Fine Press Ephemera Collection, 1924-1972
Predominant Dates: 1940-1960
ID: MSS FinePress
Extent: 0.7 cubic feet. More info below.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by name of individual or organization.
Languages of Materials: English [eng]
Abstract
This artificial collection is made up of printed materials from over forty fine presses and printers. Consisting of prospectuses, broadsides, and other ephemera, this collection provides examples of the typical output of 20th century American fine presses.
Scope and Content Notes
This collection is comprised of pieces of ephemera either produced by or pertaining to fine presses. Materials from major American presses, such as the Grabhorn Press and the Gehenna Press, are represented in the collection, as well as materials from American bibliophilic societies such as the Roxburghe, Zamarano, and Grolier Clubs. A number of items promote publications or events sponsored by libraries or other institutions. A small cache of items related to Reed College's Champoeg Press is present. The majority of items are letterpress prospectus pamphlets for upcoming publications and exhibits, but other items such as broadsides, dramatic excerpts, exhibit catalogues, order forms, and event announcements are also present. The collection is pertinent to those researching fine press, book publishing, typography, printing processes, book collecting, and the history of the fine press book in America.
Biographical / Historical Notes
The modern fine press movement has its origins in the exquisite products of the Kelmscott Press and other presses active at the end of the 19th century. In America, fine press printing was centered in Los Angeles, New York, and other artistic hubs during the 20th century, and presses often produced pamphlets, essays, broadsides, and ephemera in addition to limited edition books. Commercial efforts such as the Imprint Society and the Folio Society made fine press products available to a wider audience during the mid-to-late 20th century, but comprimised the quality that many fine presses had established as an aesthetic standard. Today the fine press and book arts movement flourishes in North America with a large number of small private presses producing limited edition works.
Administrative Information
More Extent Information:
2 boxes
Statement on Access:
The collection is open for research.
Acquisition Note:
The collection was created by Craig Smith of Oregon State Library. It is unknown when the collection was acquired by Oregon State University Library.
Related Materials:
The rare books collections contain hundreds of examples of fine press materials from the 19th through 21st centuries. These can be found in the Library catalog by searching the name of the press and limiting the search to Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation:
Fine Press Ephemera Collection (MSS FinePress), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Processing Information:
The collection was formerly cataloged under the title [Fine Press Pamphlets], Z1033 .F5 F51 McDonald.
People, Places, and Topics
Fine books.
Publishers and publishing
Box and Folder Listing
- Series 1: Ephemera, 1924-1972
- The series is comprised of letterpress printed ephemeral items, including prosopectuses, mailing inserts, broadsides, and pamphlets.
- Box-Folder 1.1: Allen Press, undated
- 2 items
- Box-Folder 1.2: Anthoensen Press, 1953
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 1.3: Bauer Type Foundry, undated
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 1.4: Book Club of California, 1946-1965
- 30 items
- Box-Folder 1.5: Bruce Rodgers, 1954
- 2 items
- Box-Folder 1.6: California Historical Society, 1954
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 1.7: Castle Press, 1953
- 2 items
- Box-Folder 1.8: Champoeg Press, 1955
- 5 items
- Box-Folder 1.9: Columbia University Press, 1943
- 4 items
- Box-Folder 1.10: Cooper Square Publishers, Inc., undated
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 1.11: Cuneo Press, Inc., undated
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 1.12: David Magee, 1965
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 1.13: Gehenna Press, undated
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 1.14: Grabhorn Press, 1934-1937
- 6 items
- Box-Folder 1.15: Grolier Club, 1961-1963
- 3 items
- Box-Folder 1.16: Huntington Library, undated
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 1.17: Imprint Society, 1970
- 6 items
- Box-Folder 2.1: Ink-Well Press, undated
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.2: Institute of Historical Cartography, 1963
- 2 items
- Box-Folder 2.3: John Howell, undated
- 3 items
- Box-Folder 2.4: Josef Stocker, undated
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.5: Lakeside Press, 1930-1958
- 5 items
- Box-Folder 2.6: Lanston Monotype Machine Co., undated
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.7: Lawrence Lande Foundation for Canadian Historical Research, 1965
- 2 items
- Box-Folder 2.8: Limited Editions Club, 1934-1968
- 3 items
- Box-Folder 2.9: Luther Burbank Society, undated
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.10: Medici Society, 1933
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.11: Nonesuch Press, 1924
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.12: Northland Press, 1967
- Box-Folder 2.13: Pierpont Morgan Library, 1959
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.14: Plantin Press, 1955
- 2 items
- Box-Folder 2.15: Rounce & Coffin Club, 1951
- 2 items
- Box-Folder 2.16: Roxburghe Club, 1956-1960
- 2 items
- Box-Folder 2.17: Roxburghe-Zamorano Clubs, 1954-1966
- 8 items
- Box-Folder 2.18: Samuel T. Farquhar, 1935
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.19: Tamalpais Press, 1972
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.20: Taylor & Taylor, 1940
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.21: Trianon Press, undated
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.22: Ward Ritchie Press, 1949
- 2 item
- Box-Folder 2.23: University of California, 1952-1959
- 2 items
- Box-Folder 2.24: Zamorano Club, 1937
- 1 item
- Box-Folder 2.25: Miscellaneous Ephemera, 1924-1955
- 11 items
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