Vintage Printing Blocks Enrich Our Growing Letterpress Collections

Recently, the Tampa Book Arts Studio received a generous donation of nearly fifty small letterpress cuts. Initially these were something of a mystery to us, due to a puzzling arrangement of letters in the logotype found in the corner of each (see above). Through research we were able to identify the lettering as “HUX” and the blocks as having been produced by the Huckins-Smith Studios, an early 20th century decorative illustration studio out of New York City providing “inspirational suggestions for advertisers—an endless variety of ideas for every illustrative need.”

Marketing their images as “Hux Cuts,” the company was widely known for producing relief blocks for cachetmakers— the proper name for those who create First Day Covers (decorated envelopes for the debut of a stamp, designed to include the stamp and first-day postmark of the city where it it is first issued). The blocks were used for FDCs mainly in the late 1920s and early 30s, but continued to be in occasional use until the 50s.

The cuts now in our collection are each approximately three inches square—Hux’s “Large” size—and were originally sold for $3.00 apiece.

After properly identifying their manufacture, with the help of our special collections chief, J.B. Dobkin, we were able to acquire a 47-page Hux Cuts specimen book and have identified and found serial numbers for our blocks.

(pages 20 and 22 of the Hux Cuts catalog)

With our new blocks, we've printed a small portfolio of proofs as a catalog for our Special Collections:

Some of the blocks are two-color, as shown by these Christmas-themed illustrations:

Thanks to our anonymous donor and to J. B. Dobkin 

for these great new additions to our collections

Farewell to a Gentleman Printer

The Tampa Book Arts Studio mourns the loss of our friend and mentor Leland Hawes, who passed away May 18. He was a lifelong amateur printer and journalist, and one of Florida's finest professional journalists.  He is especially remembered in Tampa for his “History and Heritage” columns in the Tampa Tribune, but friends and colleagues around the country will miss him deeply as one of the leading amateur letterpress printers. He served many years as President of the American Amateur Press Association where he inspired countless others with his passion for a well-told story and a well-set line of type.

He is pictured above in his home printshop last year, shortly before we moved his Chandler and Price platen press, together with many cases of type and a good amount of other printing equipment, to a new home in the Tampa Book Arts Studio. His press was a headliner at the recent Florida Letterpress Wayzgoose held here this spring (see the previous post) and we were pleased to have him with us to celebrate. It was a landmark occasion in the short history of the TBAS. As a founding friend he could appreciate the progress we have made in just five years, having moved from an improvised warehouse location to the refurbished space where we can host events like a Wayzgoose. He played an active part in the life of the Studio, as he helped sort type and spacing, offered advice about the placement of equipment, and pulled some of the first sheets printed here. He will continue to serve as an example of how to share talent and passion in friendship and fellowship. He was a friend, an amateur, and a professional in the fullest and deepest senses of those words.

The First Florida Letterpress Wayzgoose

Nearly 50 printing enthusiasts attended the Inaugural Florida Letterpress Wayzgoose held at the Tampa Book Arts Studio on Saturday, February 23rd. Among other keepsakes, they helped print the one above on the C&P platen press recently donated by Leland Hawes.

Take a look at these photos taken by Studio associate Sean Donnelly:

https://picasaweb.google.com/105398920404264602493/WayzgoosePhotosBySeanDonnelly2232013?authkey=Gv1sRgCPeLxY62p7WAGA

And these links to more photos of the day's events:

Jan has her's on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jannorris-dotcom/sets/72157633019842151/

And Melissa has a great web site where she posted her photos:

http://creativebrainbuzz.com/fla-wayzgoose

and quickie tutorial on how to make paste paper here:

http://creativebrainbuzz.com/paste-paper 

And our fabulous C&P master, Gary, posted his on his blog at:

http://www.gjohanson.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-florida-letterpress-inaugural.html

A Keepsake for Karen Russell & MFA Students

The Tampa Book Arts Studio welcomed guest writer Karen Russell and MFA residency students on Friday, Jan. 3, 2013, for some hands-on letterpress printing just outside "the swamp.” The quotation used on the keepsake is from Russell’s novel Swamplandia, set in the Florida Everglades, and though the ’glades begins a little further south, Tampa has a claim on swampland, too—which makes us all “swamp people.” 

Participants printed two colors on the keepsake, using two different presses, and also saw a demonstration of how to make decorative paste papers, watched slides and videos about the letterpress era, and shared a variety of refreshments. This is the third time the Book Arts Studio has hosted this event for graduate students in the writing program—with about 90 participants this time around.

Every student was presented with a portfolio to carry their paste paper samples and hand-printed keepsake.

Retired printer Henry Welhe demonstrates the Intertype to MFA student Charles Wheeler and guest writer Karen Russell.

The first Florida Letterpress Wayzgoose (coming soon)

Fellow printers have recently been invited to attend the first FLORIDA LETTERPRESS WAYZGOOSE at the Tampa Book Arts Studio. The day will be a chance to meet and talk shop—and there will be tables set up for a SWAP MEET and DISPLAY. 

Gary Johanson will be on hand to demonstrate platen press printing. Peter and Donna Thomas will display some of their work and demonstrate hand papermaking and their miniature Hollander beater.   There will be hot metal demonstrations on our Intertype, Ludlow Typograph, and Monotype caster. We'll also print a keepsake or two that day, with demonstrations of printing on a Washington Hand Press and a Vandercook.

We anticipate welcoming some special guests: LES FELLER, letterpress printer and retired founder of the Printer's Row Printing Museum in Chicago, will be on hand to chat about some of the antique broadsides, blocks, and presses he has donated to the Tampa Book Arts Studio. DON BLACK, of Don Black Linecasting in Toronto will be here to answer Intertype questions and talk letterpress. And RICH HOPKINS, whose new book on the Monotype will be hot off the press, will talk about the past and future of Monotype casting and sign copies of TOLBERT LANSTON AND THE MONOTYPE: THE ORIGIN OF DIGITAL TYPESETTING.

[For printers & guests who are planning on attending and need surrounding hotel information: The University of Tampa has a hotel list of discounted nearby hotels and info about the campus shuttle.]

Publishing, Printing, and Book Arts Finals

University of Tampa students from English, art, and creative writing recently completed the first full-semester course in Printing, Publishing, and Book Arts at the Tampa Book Arts Studio this fall. Along with learning how to hand-set type and operate a press, the students were also taught papermaking, bookbinding, typographic design, marbling, paste paper techniques, and other related skills. 

Azizeh Mubaslat, left, and Claire Barley finish up their joint signature for the class project, a hand-bound book entitled Inspiration 2012.

A Beautiful, Vintage Letterpress Collection

The newest donations from Les Feller & family have officially been displayed and integrated into the Tampa Book Arts Studio, located in the Edison Building on the University of Tampa campus. The framed 18th & 19th century posters, broadsides, and playbills were hung in honor of Gordon and Dorthy Martin.

Of special note is an educational display about “The Wood Engraver's Art,” assembled and mounted by Les to showcase the achievements and techniques of this art form.  A second panel includes a representative selection of engraver’s tools and instruments.