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About

The Common Press is the letterpress printing studio at the University of Pennsylvania. The press is a collaboration of interests at Penn, including writing (Kelly Writers House), print culture (the Rare Book & Manuscript Library) and visual arts and design (the School of Design). The facility provides a mixed media environment where students can move between digital and manual image making, collaborating with writers, printmakers and others in the book arts. The Common Press exists to assist in teaching design and to facilitate collaborative projects across the university. It was founded on January 17, 2006, the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's birth.

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Contact

Coming Up

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Join us for the 5th anniversary of the founding of the Common Press, January 21, 2011, 5p, Morgan Building, 205 South 34th Street, Philadelphia

Common Press

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David Carson

1. Designer David Carson visiting the press in December, 2010.

2. Sample cover for Carson's next book

3. Matt Neff and Tricia Treacy working the press

4. Carson evaluating a sample print

5. Katie Holmes at the rack


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Wharton Esherick, A Portfolio of Prints

12 re-strikes from original blocks, created in conjunction with the exhibition, Wharton Esherick and the Birth of the American Modern.

Prints are 12.5" x 16.5" okawara paper, portfolio covered in silk shantung

Printed by Matt Neff and Sofie Hodara; portfolio designed by Tricia Treacy; title page and colophon designed by David Comberg; titling typeface, Everyman, designed by Robin McDowell

Edition of 110.


Paper MakingPaper Making
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Swipe File

Illustrations by Charles Burns, 'swiped' from artists he admires.
16 pages, 10x7.5" letterpress, edition of 100. Printed by Matt Neff, 2008


A La CarteA La CarteA La CarteA La CarteA La Carte
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A La Carte: Recipes from the Rare Book Library

5''x7''; 22 cards printed 2-sides; letterpress and inkjet; cover lasercut, edition of 40. Designed and printed in April 2009 by students in Typography. Faculty: David Comberg


Monsters MindMonsters MindMonsters MindMonsters MindMonsters Mind
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Monsters Mind

15th Room Press 28 pages, 13x10"; letterpress, edition of 100 Images were found in 16th and 17th century texts in the Rare Book Library. Designed and printed in April 2008 by students in Grotesque Forms. Faculty: Erin Gautsche and Matt Neff


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6 Words

28 pages, 11.5x7.75"; letterpress. Six-word artist statements printed by students in Jackie Tileston's Painting II class. 2008


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Book Arts 2010

Laser cut wood and linoleum cut poster, 12x18," Tricia Treacy's 2010 Book Arts class


Kelly Writers House
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Kelly Writers House, October 2010

Students at a celebration of small presses at Kelly Writers House


Paper Makingpaper making
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Mary Tasillo, October 2009

Students in Cultures of the Book participate in a paper making workshop, lead my Mary Tasillo, October 2009.


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Philacentrik

The first Common Book, includes views of Philadelphia from nine contributors. 32 pages, 7.75x10", printed December, 2006 in an edition of 120.


Cultures of the Book, Spring 2008Cultures of the Book, Spring 2008Cultures of the Book, Spring 2008Cultures of the Book, Spring 2008Cultures of the Book, Spring 2008Cultures of the Book, Spring 2008
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Cultures of the Book, Spring 2008

1. Peter Stallybrass with Zoe Dare-Anastasio in the print shop

2. Jennifer Kolb printing.

3. Mario Ponticello setting type.

4. Laser cut wood blocks used for printing letterpress, Robin McDowell

5. Printed and bound pages from laser cut wood blocks showing deterioration of image, Robin McDowell

6. Recreation of sixteenth century title page, set and printed by Rachel Margolis.


Robin McDowellRobin McDowellRobin McDowellRobin McDowell
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Work by Robin McDowell (Fine Arts, '08)

1. Type-high. Laser cut woodblocks of original design.

2. Laser cut wood type from the Everyman typeface project.

3. Printed proof of Everyman typeface.

4. Keepsake for Oak Knoll Fest, fall 2007.


Binding, bound, RestrictedBinding, Bound, RestrictedBinding, bound, RestrictedBinding, bound, Restricted
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Binding, Bound, Restricted

The project was a collaboration of writing and printing with students from Kelly Writers House and the Fine Arts department with visiting artist Carolee Campbell. October, 2007.


13 Virtues Revisited13 Virtues Revisited
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13 Virtues Revisited

Franklin's 13 Virtues were subverted with other, less virtuous aphorisms attributed to him; designed and printed by students in graphic design. David Comberg faculty; Kim Ku, teaching assistant


Overheard
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Overheard

Cards with fragments of overheard conversations, designed and printed by students in typography, spring, 2007. Edition of 24; David Comberg, faculty


Burnt Toast Cover
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Burnt Toast Vinyl LP Cover

letterpress and silkscreen. Designed and printed by Matt Neff, Will Stichter, and Christopher van Auken, March 2007


Folio 2007
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Folio 2007

Card announcing annual printmaking portfolio. Designed and printed by Chris van Auken and Molly Winston


Matt NeffMatt NeffMatt Neff
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Matt Neff, Posters

1. Spring Fling concert poster, 2007 14.5x20" 2-color silkscreen and letterpress. Designed and printed by Matt Neff and Chris VanAuken, edition of 250, April 2007.

2. Course announcement, letterpress and silkscreen

3. Poster for visiting artist, Swoon. Printed letterpress with hand-applied graphite.


Poetry and PrintsPoetry and Prints
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Cover of Letter(s), A Portfolio of Poetry and Prints

A collaborative project of Kelly Writers House and students in graphic design and printmaking, November 2006.

1. Cover designed and printed by Lizza Robb

2. Page from Poetry and Prints; poet: Randall Crouch; printmaker: Iris Leung; designer: Sarah Burd


Franklin Cards
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32 Cards

3x4" with sleeve, handset and printed by students in graphic design with various Franklin aphorisms, edition of 50. December 2005. David Comberg faculty, Sue Yen Chae, teaching assistant.


Penn AlexanderPenn Alexander
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Penn Alexander School

For the past three years, third grade students have visited and printed on the Vandercook during their studies of Benjamin Franklin


Johanna DruckerJohanna Drucker
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Visiting Artist Johanna Drucker

1. Johanna Drucker leading a bookbinding workshop, February, 2008

2. Broadside written designed and printed in a workshop with visiting artist Johanna Drucker, February, 2008.


Susan HoweWriters House
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Broadside for poet Susan Howe

1. Broadside designed and printed by Kelly Writers House, February, 2007, edition of 50.

2. 15th Room Press, imprint of Kelly Writers House. Logo designed by students in graphic design, fall 2006; David Comberg, faculty