Letterpress :

Currently watching a fantastic documentary
on wood type letterpress.

Hamilton's a US wood type producer / printer,
in the middle of nowhere in Two Rivers Wisconsin, a museum of printing
the printing which to me is
so aligned with early stamp printing, and design.

The early engravers of the type in wood, were paid
by the letter, they were producing each, 3 a minute.

What we like so much about early stamps,
the errors, minor faults, all those things that are that, which is
less than perfection, are found in the wood type.

A marvelous program.
http://www.unicorngraphics.com/wood...fourteen.asp

various youtubes:

http://www.google.com.au/#sclient=p...1024&bih=567

Hi Rodney

I once worked for a software company that created typesetting computer systems. At one Canadian printer I was offered the gift of a lifetime. Two complete drawers of wood type. Unfortunately at that time, many many years ago, there would have been a customs problem bringing the type back to the US so I had to leave it in Canada.

Another facit of stamp production is the making of stone lithograph "plates". I once saw a film on this and it was fascinating.

Jerry B

Wow! I share the same wish,
love to see how a stamp lithograph stone was prepared.

I have used photo exposed templates when I was printing
Tee shirts during my hippie period :) but never seen
stone lithography used anywhere.
Bad luck with the wood type, very sought after apparently these days,

Lets hope the Wisconsin Museum survives.