With rotary presses, computers, and other forms of digital transmission have revolutionized printing, the print products made from traditional letterpress printing have become specialty items. From colorful greeting cards, limited edition bookbinding, custom invitations, and one-of-a-kind publications, letterpress printers have a lot to offer. Whether you’re a devout book lover looking to collect a special edition of your favorite novel or a couple looking for someone to design and print your wedding invitations, here is a round-up of all the letterpress printers in the Hudson Valley.
Quick Brown Fox Letterpress | Saugerties
Quick Brown Fox letterpress specializes in fun and quirky greeting cards. Unlike Hallmark, these cards are not mass-produced, but instead printed one color at a time, one card at a time, on 20th-century printing presses. Featuring slogans like “have a fin-tastic birthday” printed over a drawing of a shark and “I’d be screwed without you” next to a screw driver design, Quick Brown Fox’s goal is to bring a smile to the face of everyone who buys and receives one of its cards. Offering other gift items such as candles, calendars, gift bags, stickers, and journals, their work can be bought at their new brick-and-mortar store in Saugerties or at many retailers around the country.
Thornwillow Press | Newburgh
Focusing more on the publishing aspects of letterpress, Thornwillow Press has spent the last 40 years dedicated to keeping the art of letterpress alive. It has published over 150 special editions, ranging from classic authors like Dante and Jane Austen to contemporary greats like Toni Morrison and Barack Obama. Not only do the books of Thornwillow Press find homes in the hands of many bibliophiles, but also in the permanent collections of institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, and the White House. Thornwillow has three different branches of production: Thornwillow Press, which handles book publishing; Thornwillow Makers, which offers a range of personalized goods, stationery, and gifts; and Thornwillow Institute and Makers Village, a nonprofit that works to preserve the legacy of print, all located in Newburgh.
Woodstock Press | Woodstock
Woodstock Press originally started as Metal Mermaid Press in 2011 in New Jersey, then Hold Fast Industries in 2014, and is now located in Woodstock under its current name. A design and illustration studio, the Woodstock Press specializes in wedding and event invitations, corporate identity and collateral, menus, communication materials, and custom books. The Woodstock Press works with paper and leather to create beautifully intricate designs, focused on quality and longevity over quick production.
Wishbone Lettepress | Kingston
Specializing in custom wedding invitations and stationery, Wishbone Letterpress works with wedding clients to create an invitation that is in line with their creative vision and especially designed for each couple. Each consultation begins with a wedding questionnaire, and then a conversation between the designer and the couple, before any decisions are made. Wishbone Press also designs day-of wedding pieces, such as wedding programs, menus, escort cards, table numbers, yard signage, and favors. They can be found on Etsy or at various stores around the area, with more information to be found on their website.
Hudson Valley Letterpress | Hillsdale
The Hudson Valley Letterpress, also called Foxy & Winston, offers custom stationery design and printing by Jane Buck, a renowned British stationery designer. Buck works to create playful, fun, and interesting stationery fit for weddings, birthday parties, birth announcements, businesses, and holidays. Every stationery piece is printed using her 1890s and 1920s Chandler and Price Treadle printing presses. Since the studio is run only by Buck, it is accessible by appointment only. More information on customization, estimates on pricing, and testimonials by customers can be found on the Hudson Valley Letterpress website.
1080 Press | Kingston
Both a print shop and a book publisher, 1080 Press offers a variety of letterpress printing services. They publish books of poetry and essays, as well as a monthly newsletter, all focused on traditional printing methods, with some mass production methods thrown in from time to time. 1080 Press works hand-in-hand with the authors of the books they publish in both the editorial and printing process. Published books are by invitation only, as they do not accept submissions. Purchases can be made on 1080 Press’s website.
Bat Flower Press | Tarrytown
Bat Flower Press is a letterpress and papermaking studio. Located in Tarrytown, it focuses on the sustainable production of handmade paper and artistic letterpress design using recycled paper and farm waste to make its products. Bat Flower Press makes art prints, greeting cards, paper, and wildlife illustrations, as well as creating custom save the dates, full wedding suites, and day-of-stationery items for weddings. Moreover, it also offers workshops in papermaking using natural dyes and pressed florals. Contact information can be found on their website.
Central Press | Millbrook
Founded in 1888, Central Press in Millbrook has a long history of creating high-quality printing. They offer a variety of services, including business cards, invitations, flyers, posters, and books. While they specialize in letterpress printing, Central Press also offers layout, branding, and print and digital design as part of their design service; offset and digital printing as well as letterpress; and laminating and binding as part of their finishing service. A community staple for over a century, Central Press is also home to an Original Heidelberg Press.
