Letterpress is a form of relief printing that was invented in the 15th century. To make a print, a raised surface is inked and pressed into a sheet of paper. Originally, individual letters were carved in wood or cast in lead and arranged into words for printing. Today, it is possible to design digitally and have the layout output as a single photopolymer plate. This is the method used by Sweet Peony Press.

We print our plates on a 1916 Chandler and Price New Style Platen Press. This press is powered by a foot treadle and the energy of the operator. Each piece of paper is hand-fed into the press, one sheet at a time and one colour at a time. Printing inks are hand-mixed to create the chosen colours or to match any colour reference supplied by the client.

And why spend so much time and energy printing in this antiquated method when contemporary presses are fully automated and can pump out prints at a dizzying speed? When you hold a piece of letterpress printing in your hand, you will immediately understand. It is as if all the attention and care taken to print each piece can be seen and felt on the page. The type and graphics that have been pressed into the soft paper have left a beautiful debossed impression.

Choosing letterpress-printed stationery will show your attention to quality and detail while fulfilling your desire to stand out and leave a lasting impression.