Meishi

In Japan the act of exchanging a business card is a ritualistic tradition. A Japanese business card is called a meishi; translated mei means name and shi thorn; traditionally the cards would have been hand carved using sharp splinters of bamboo. When the card is presented it is held in the top two corners, face up and turned so the person receiving the meishi can read the card; the meishi should be received and held in the bottom two corners, it is considered impolite to cover the name with ones thumb. Once the card has been read one must thank the person and bow.

This concept is very foreign to us in the UK; all too often a creased, digitally printed card is pulled from ones pocket and immediately stuffed into a wallet without a second glance. Our belief is that a business card is the first physical impression of you and your business. Everything from the weight of the paper, the texture of the print and the typesetting of the text all lead to a lasting impression that is formed of you.

"Look at that subtle colouring. The tasteful thickness... oh my God. It even has a watermark.” 

Patrick Bateman, American Psycho, 2000.

Letterpress printed onto Cairn recycled board

Metallic die-stamping and light blue letterpress on Colorplan Mist 540gsm

Grey letterpress on Colorplan cool grey 350gsm.

On the press: Grey letterpress onto pristine white Colorplan

A Window into our Soul

Our new print works are shortly opening on Walcot Street, Bath.

From our conception in a dusty old shed in Dorset, to a windowless industrial unit on the outskirts of Bath, the time has finally come to move the printing machines to pride of place in their own stand alone store on Walcot Street, Bath.

We print using two beautiful Heidelberg 10x15 Platens dating from the 1960’s and everything from their windmill like motion, whooshing and whirring as they print, to their physical beauty (1 ton of elegant German engineered black steel, wielding 40 tons of pressure); are a pleasure  to behold.

So, one day, very soon, as you are walking down Walcot Street, why not cast your gaze upon no. 134 and witness for yourself what really goes into making a meticulous letterpress print. 

Formerly opening on Saturday, 14th June 2014.

Being loaded onto the truck before being transported across Bath.

Charlie meticulously cleaning the machine parts before reassembling .

The machines in their new home, 134 Walcot Street, Bath