Join us for a drop-in Open Studio at Common Press to to experience letterpress printing for yourself! You’ll be printing a broadside (a single sided print meant for public display) that celebrates our newly acquired Caslon metal type and its connection to the Dunlap Broadside, the first printed edition of the Declaration of Independence.
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A broadside or broadsheet is a historical term for a one-sided letterpress print (like the Declaration of Independence), meant for public display. Visit the Common Press during monthly Open Studio Sessions to print a broadside for yourself. The theme of the broadside changes each month, exploring the people and processes important to document production in the late 18th century.
In this session, you’ll be printing a broadside that celebrates our newly acquired Caslon metal type and its connection to the Dunlap Broadside, the first printed edition of the Declaration of Independence.
This event is free and open to the public, but you will need either a PennCard or a photo ID to enter the building. If you don't have a PennCard, you will need to bring a photo ID and sign in at the security desk at the entrance to Fisher Fine Arts Library for access. See University access guidelines here.
Throughout the Fall Semester, donate cotton and linen fabric to be processed and made into sheets of paper! View details about rag collection at Open Studio events.
As part of the Penn Libraries America 250 programming, join the Common Press for The Typography of Independence, a year-long program celebrating the papermaking and printing techniques that created the first edition of the Declaration of Independence.
This blog serves to document the Typography of Independence project and contextualize it with monthly essays honoring the people and processes important to document production in the late 18th century.