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Fine Press Ephemera Collection, 1924-1972

Overview of the Collection

Title
Fine Press Ephemera Collection
Dates
1924-1972 (inclusive)
1940-1960 (bulk)
Quantity
0.70 cubic feet, (2 boxes)
Collection Number
MSS FinePress
Summary
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.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

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.

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Content Description

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.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Fine Press Ephemera Collection (MSS FinePress), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Alphabetical by name of individual or organization.

Acquisition Information

The collection was created by Craig Smith of Oregon State Library. It is unknown when the collection was acquired by Oregon State University Library.

Processing Note

The collection was formerly cataloged under the title [Fine Press Pamphlets], Z1033 .F5 F51 McDonald.

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.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Fine books.
  • Publishers and publishing.

Finding Aid Authors: Ethan Heusser.
2017

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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