WHY LETTERPRESS
BEING GREEN

Letterpress Printing

Letterpress is one of the oldest and most beautiful printing techniques dating back to the 15th century. Introduced by Johannes Gutenberg, he revolutionised printing with the invention of a printing press with movable type. This continued being the most common form of printing right into the 1800's. Sadly, with the development of digital technology and the lengthy preparation involved, today very few working machines exist, used by a handful of skilled craftsman.

The letterpress process involves inking the surface of metal plates with raised images or type with rollers, and pressing them onto a soft impressionable paper creating crisp, tactile prints. All our designs are created digitally and then separated into the different colours, for each colour a separate plate is made. We then print each plate one at a time, carefully aligned, to build up the colours to complete the final design. Every piece of card is fed by hand onto the antique press as the machine prints, making each piece subtly unique. At Emma Jo we use a stunningly thick, 100% cotton stock for the way it accepts the print and creating the most beautiful tactile impression.

Letterpress stationery has a timeless quality that cannot be matched.
Once you have run your fingertips over the wonderfully delicate impressions you will
fall in love with its charm and beauty and so will your guests.