Letterpress

About

A carefully curated selection of cards, greeting cards and other paper products traditionally printed on vintage typographical printing presses, one colour at a time, often using wooden characters and printing blocks (cuts) that are over 100 years old, by friends from Japan and the U.K. We've also included a small collection of cards designed by Charles and Aude, printed in our own letterpress studio on our Adana TP/48 motorised press (1952), Cropper & Charlton proof press (100 years old!), F.M Weiler Boston Tiegel (1880's) or Adana 8x5 and 5x3 tabletop presses. We've branded this collection "Nomado Kappan", Kappan means "letterpress" in Japanese. Letterpress cards are special for many reasons. Letterpress or typographical printing is a 15th century technology that somehow managed to remain the gold standard until the middle of the 20th century, which means a 600 year traditional heritage. This kind of printing involves using one’s hands (rather than a computer) in a complex and precise process. Materials (paper for example) are important, colours usually have to be printed individually and the end result has more depth and texture than digitally printed cards. A letterpress card will always look and feel nicer than a regular modern one.