Letterpress Printing

Prior to the 20th century letterpress printing was the dominant form of reproduction.  From the time of Gutenburg until the beginning of the 20th century there was no other process for reproduction short of hand copying manuscripts.  Around the same time as Gutenberg, engraving started to gain popularity in the art world with Masters Albrecht Dürer and Martin Schongauer producing works rivaling paintings.This process eventually found its way to stationery artists. At Midtown printing, we have a number of wonderful old Heidelberg letterpress machines as well as Carver & Olney engraving presses.  Dating from the early 1900's’s through the 1970’s we use these machines every day to print beautiful invitations, business cards, stationery and posters.  There has been a renaissance in letterpress printing as people have become aware of the subtle look and feel of the slightly debossed images created by this process.  We hope that engraving can experience a renaissance as well, since its opaque and metallic inks can be printed on dark colored papers and amazingly fine detail can be achieved unlike any other processe. Our letterpress machines are also utilized for die cutting, numbering, embossing, debossing, perforating, scoring and foil stamping.

Our Letterpress Equipment

2 Heidelberg 10 x 15 Windmills

  • Max Sheet Size - 10" x 15"
  • Min Sheet Size - 1.5" x 2.75"
  • Maximum Image Area - 10" x 13.375"
  • Gripper - .375"
  • Maximum Thickness - Cardboard
  • Minumum Thickness - 20# Offset
  • Prints 1 Color
  • Any Ink, Foil Stamping, Die Cutting, Embossing
  • Letterpress Printing
  • Numbering, Many Other Tasks
  • Moderate Make-Ready

Heidelberg 13 x 18 Windmill

  • Max Sheet Size - 13.375" x 18.125"
  • Min Sheet Size - 3.5" x 4"
  • Maximum Image Area - 12.625" x 17.75"
  • Gripper - .375"
  • Maximum Thickness - Cardboard
  • Minumum Thickness - 20# Offset
  • Prints 1 Color
  • Any Ink, Die Cutting, Embossing
  • Letterpress Printing
  • Numbering, Many Other Tasks
  • Moderate Make-Ready

Heidelberg KSBA Cylinder Press

  • Max Sheet Size - 18" x 22.5"
  • Min Sheet Size - 5.5" x 7.125"
  • Maximum Image Area - 17.125" x 21.4375"
  • Gripper - .375"
  • Maximum Thickness - Cardboard
  • Minumum Thickness - 20# Offset
  • Prints 1 Color
  • Any Ink, Die Cutting, Embossing
  • Numbering, Many Other Tasks
  • Moderate Make-Ready