Hemp fabric, soaked in a slaked-lime solution and beaten by hand for 15 minutes. (Elizabeth Boyne)

Archeologists found the first and oldest piece of paper recorded in Asia dates from the Western Han dynasty around 105 CE. Made of hemp it was very crude. Peasants were encouraged to grow grains during the Han dynasty, one being hemp. In early paper making women soaked hemp in water and beat it on wash blocks of stone. Does this mean women invented paper? [Read more]

Detail of final sheet (with incorporated print) cast in half-round corn-cob mould. (Alta Price)

Ceramicist Jon Hook and papermaker Andrea Peterson of Hook Pottery Paper gave an engaging demo on how to make both the paper and moulds for casting a variety of objects. Jon and Andrea covered clay selection; mould creation; sheet formation using a deckle box; light pressing, by hand, of freshly formed sheet; inclusion of printed imagery into final cast, akin to a 3-D version of chine collé with relief prints on a variety of papers; and casting and removal of final paper object. [Read more]

Laser Cutting Fine Binding, Artist Monique Lallier, Interpreter of Maladies. (Brian Queen)

Brian Queen started off this sparkling panel with his presentation, “The Paper Artist & the Engineer: How Technology Supports the Creative Process.” He amply demonstrated that new digital technologies have presented book artists and designers with amazing new tools: laser cutters, CNC routers, and 3-D printers are capable of more than you might imagine. The talk was supplemented with several short “demo” videos, and a parade of artifacts that were passed through the audience. Queen pointed out that throughout history, artists have been among the first people to exploit new technologies.  [Read more]

The Drinkable Book is a manual that provides safe water tips, printed in non-toxic, food grade ink on paper coated with silver nanoparticles, which kills water-borne diseases like cholera, E. coli and typhoid. Each book is 25 pages, and each page filters water for about 6 months – giving people who receive it tools to have clean water for about 12.5 years. (Jamie Mahoney)

Session III, Panel 4. “Printing the Drinkable Book: Advances in Paper in the Twenty-First Century,” presented by Jamie Mahoney” ¶ Divers Digital Desiderata: Explorations in Digital Printing,” presented by John Labovitz ¶ “Hand Papermaking & the Printed Word: Dynamic Tools for Healing,” presented by Amy Richard.  [Read more]

Dennis Ichiyama at the San Francisco Center for the Book. (Photo courtesy of SFCB)

Several Vandercook presses were rolling out impressions of 50-line wood type, each inked with its own vibrant color, as I entered the San Francisco Center for the Book. Because of the informality of the presentation, I was able to ask questions about the materials used in the demonstration. [Read more]

Left to right at the BCC’s Columbian iron hand press: Amelia Hugill-Fontanel, Richard Kegler, Casey Smith, Henry Snyder, Fred Voltmer and Paul Romaine.

Members of APHA and the Friends of Dard Hunter had the opportunity to visit the Library of the Book Club of California before the conference got underway at Mills College in Oakland. The Club occupies its own floor in a downtown office building on Sutter Street. Visitors are greeted by a small office, lounge area, small bar, and an antique Columbian printing press restored by APHA member Fred Voltmer. Voltmer has become the go-to man for press restoration in the Bay Area. In “retirement,” he has restored more than a dozen antique presses of various makes and vintages to working order at institutions throughout the Bay Area. Fred, a retired engineer, prints under the imprint Havilah Press in Emeryville. [Read more]

Magnolia Editions, 2527 Magnolia Street, Oakland CA

Because this year’s conference celebrated both printing and papermaking, there were many possibilities for connections between people with different interests. The trip to Magnolia Editions fine art print studio provided such opportunities. It was a fantastic tour of a spectacular place. Don Farnsworth, the maestro, took center stage, and his fellow artists were delightful guides for the behind-the-scenes tour. [Read more]

Photos courtesy of The Newberry Library and The Book Art Museum.

The American Printing History Association is pleased to announce the 2015 APHA Award Winners; they are Paul Gehl for the Individual Award and the Book Art Museum of Łódź, Poland for the Institutional Award. [Read more]

Via the contact form:

I ran into this website while researching prints by W.T. Littig, a printing Co. In Brooklyn, NY in the early 20th century. I recently acquired several prints that are not colleges along with copper plates and prints from the Andersen-Lamb Printing Co. I am looking for a connection between the two companies other than the address. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Rick Seip

The 2014 joint APHA/Friends of Dard Hunter conference is now history. The panels, demonstrations and tours were well received by the 161 registrants. APHA thanks our partner the Friends of Dard Hunter and Jennifer Baker their Vice President for Annual Meetings. Thanks is also due to our own Sara Sauers, Vice President for Programs and the local program committee: John McBride, program chair; Kathleen Burch, site host; with additional help from Grendl Löftvist, Simran Thadani, Kathy Walkup, and Janice Braun, as well as from APHA Treasurer David Goodrich. And let’s not forget the 42 presenters and the helpful onsite volunteers at the San Francisco Center for the Book and Mills College. Look for write ups on the panels, demos, and tours here soon. Meanwhile, enjoy attendees’ photos on facebook.