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