The Lasting Impression of Letterpress Printing

Today, Bowne is home to 34 presses, 18 of which are in regular use, largely from the late 19th century.
Catherine Yang
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NEW YORK—Robert Wilson pries off the metal lid of what looks like a can of paint.

“The ink is really thick, almost like honey,” he says, spooning out a small dollop of it before spreading it over the large metal disk of a late 19th century printing press, and starting it up by spinning the wheel and stepping down to meet a rising foot pedal shaped like a “G.”