letterpress

[let-er-pres]

noun

1. the process of printing from letters letter or type in relief, rather than from intaglio plates or planographically.

2. matter printed in such a manner.

3. Chiefly British.,  printed text or reading matter, as distinguished from illustrations.

adverb

1. by letterpress.

   The circular should be printed letterpress, not offset.

adjective

1. set in letterpress.

   letterpress work.

letterpress

/ ˈlɛtəˌprɛs /

noun

1. 1. a method of printing in which ink is transferred from raised surfaces to paper by pressure; relief printing

   2. matter so printed

2. text matter as distinct from illustrations

Word History and Origins

Origin of letterpress¹

First recorded in 1750–60; letter ¹ + press ¹

Example Sentences

Cary points to Martha Stewart’s championing of letterpress stationery as part of the reason why a revival came around in the early aughts.

From Los Angeles Times

“A precious stone collection could be displayed in an antique letterpress drawer. You can put a piece of glass over it and make it into a side table or a coffee table,” Araujo says.

From Seattle Times

It was the only place she could afford to set up a communal workshop for letterpress printers, bookmakers, writers, and anyone who works with paper and ink.

From Seattle Times

This “letterpress edition” contains more than 100 illustrations from a dozen artists, living and dead, including three intimately associated with Burroughs’s work: J. Allen St. John, Frank Frazetta and Roy Krenkel.

From Washington Post

He stooped over the metal tray containing the letterpress blocks and studied them closely, tapping to make sure that I had wedged each block firmly in place.

From Literature