1Glacierman
A lot of ink (or electrons) has been spilled trying to define what constitutes a private press, and some of that on this forum. I don't think that there is one single all-encompassing definition, but I thought I'd share with you this quote by Dorothy A. Harrop from her Preface to A History of the Gregynog Press:
Much time has been and is spent in the formulation of all-embracing definitions of the term 'private press', but many of the attempts would seem to contain but half-truths. The only definition which can undeniably be said to be true of them all is that a private press is one where the owner calls the tune without reference to outside let or hindrance.* To break even in financial terms or, better still, to make a profit, which private presses have rarely done, may be part of the vision, but it is not the prime consideration. The owner's satisfaction, pleasure and education come first and are paramount in the creative endeavour.
She also notes that private press books are often flawed works which are of value for what they reveal about the personality of their creator as well as for their aesthetic attributes.
------------------------
*"Without let or hindrance" is a legal term which means 'without being prevented from doing something'.
Much time has been and is spent in the formulation of all-embracing definitions of the term 'private press', but many of the attempts would seem to contain but half-truths. The only definition which can undeniably be said to be true of them all is that a private press is one where the owner calls the tune without reference to outside let or hindrance.* To break even in financial terms or, better still, to make a profit, which private presses have rarely done, may be part of the vision, but it is not the prime consideration. The owner's satisfaction, pleasure and education come first and are paramount in the creative endeavour.
She also notes that private press books are often flawed works which are of value for what they reveal about the personality of their creator as well as for their aesthetic attributes.
------------------------
*"Without let or hindrance" is a legal term which means 'without being prevented from doing something'.
2ChestnutPress
>1 Glacierman: I agree that the true definition of a Private Press is that it is run for the sole purpose of the owner to print for themselves exactly what they wish
3wcarter
>1 Glacierman:
I do not disagree with your definition, but it does mean that a private press is not necessarily a quality press, let alone a fine press, although many are both.
I do not disagree with your definition, but it does mean that a private press is not necessarily a quality press, let alone a fine press, although many are both.
4ChestnutPress
>3 wcarter: Private Press certainly does not guarantee quality in the slightest, with many quite awful publications out there to prove it. But the generalisation of a private press being a fine press is understandably born of many private presses being created with the desire to uphold high standards of ‘the book beautiful’.
5SuttonHooPress
>4 ChestnutPress: or due to inexpensive or free access to cast away technology. .. .
6ubiquitousuk
To my mind a private press ought to be a press, meaning it does it's own printing. If you contract someone else to do your printing then you are a publisher rather than a press (which in no way is a slight).
But I am fully conscious that this is not how the expression private press has come to be used.
But I am fully conscious that this is not how the expression private press has come to be used.
7NathanOv
>6 ubiquitousuk: I think that is how the term private press is predominantly used, and some would go so far as to say a private press does almost everything in house.
Fine press is another matter.
Fine press is another matter.
8Shadekeep
Sounds a reasonable definition to me. And yes, as we've discussed elsewhere, I think any with "press" in the name should do their own printing, be it letterpress, offset, or something else.
9H-M
It's not easy to find but Will Rueter's Pressing Matters (2013) addresses this question. It reprints a couple of essays on the topic by Leonard Bahr (Adagio Pr.) followed by a commentary/expansion from Will. Plus it has some pages of Will's typographic play. His definition of private press is: a small – typically one-person – operation dedicated to the creation of printed work, made with care and craftsmanship, primarily for personal pleasure. Sales, profit and volume are not motivating concerns.
10Glacierman
>3 wcarter: That's not my definition, I was just quoting Dorothy Harrop. And you are right; private press does not equate to fine press, although many do. Some private presses turned out badly printed material of little substance, but they have fun doing it!
>7 NathanOv: Yes, a private press does it all in my mind, whether it is run by one person or more. There were/are husband/wife presses (such as the Caradoc Press of H. G. & Hesba Webb or Tom & Barb Rea's Dooryard Press), family-run presses (e. g. Walter Kahoe's Rose Valley Press) as well as the one man shops. Those presses I just mentioned above did everything themselves in their shops---design, typesetting, printing, binding.
For myself, my interest is primarily in private presses, the good, the bad and the ugly. Fine printing intersects with this, so perforce I have an interest in that as well. Fine press establishments are often publishers more than private presses, as the actual work is jobbed out. One could argue that the Gruffyground Press, for example, was not so much a private press as a publisher as the printing was farmed out to others. The same could be said of others, say, Nawakum Press. I shall let others argue that point.
>7 NathanOv: Yes, a private press does it all in my mind, whether it is run by one person or more. There were/are husband/wife presses (such as the Caradoc Press of H. G. & Hesba Webb or Tom & Barb Rea's Dooryard Press), family-run presses (e. g. Walter Kahoe's Rose Valley Press) as well as the one man shops. Those presses I just mentioned above did everything themselves in their shops---design, typesetting, printing, binding.
For myself, my interest is primarily in private presses, the good, the bad and the ugly. Fine printing intersects with this, so perforce I have an interest in that as well. Fine press establishments are often publishers more than private presses, as the actual work is jobbed out. One could argue that the Gruffyground Press, for example, was not so much a private press as a publisher as the printing was farmed out to others. The same could be said of others, say, Nawakum Press. I shall let others argue that point.
11a.friend
Now this is a private press vibe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMA7JbitZd2/
Video by Jorge Lar of Prelo Prints. Very pleasing to watch!
Video by Jorge Lar of Prelo Prints. Very pleasing to watch!
