Private Press Movement

The Private Press Movement

              There was a feeling of discontent with the quality of books in the late 19th century as there was in other decorative arts. Book production, along with so many other things, had become highly mechanised. And, because of the ideas about art, work and society were central to the Arts and Crafts Movement, the arts of the book including calligraphy, typography, and book binding were highly valued, thus creating 'The private press movement' which began in Britain in 1891 with the setting up of the Kelmscott Press by William Morris, in which he first got inspired by Emery Walker’s talk on ‘Letterpress Printing and Illustration’ at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society’s first exhibition in 1888 at the New Gallery in London. This marked the beginning of around fifty years of intense activity from many private presses inspired by Morris and Walker, both in Britain and abroad.

Producers of private press books focused on the revival of the craft of book making and often had close links to other Arts and Crafts designers and makers. This books were produced by individuals, rather than by large companies. They sourced hand-made paper, high quality inks, and often designed their own typefaces. They also revived bookbinding, and book coverings which were made in traditional vellum as well as elaborately tooled leather covers, and, in some cases, ornate book mounts in precious metals. There was also a great flowering in these handmade books in the late 19th century and early 20th centuries which contributed to the high standards of book design and typography still current today.

After reading and researching a little about the private press movement, it got me thinking about the difference of books we have today. People poured their hearts and souls in the writing and ornamenting of the books in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It made people appreciate literacy and it made them look at a book and see a work of art, a work of hundreds or even thousands of hours put into it. Now a days, books are fastly made compared to before. Maybe that's a reason of us not appreciating it them as much. 

The way I look at it, the books are a reflection of what we live in out societies. Before in the Arts and Crafts, citizens appreciated hand-made things, they appreciated books, culture and time. That's why their books reflected that. Most of our books now a days are simple and with not much creativity put into them, reflecting out fast track society in which almost everything is done fast and without appreciation

Bibliography
"The Arts and Crafts Movement." About the Arts and Crafts Movement. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"William Morrris and His Private Press." William Morrris and His Private Press. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"The Private Press Movement." - Emery Walker Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.