Tom Paine Printing Press

THE TOM PAINE PRINTING PRESS is now at 151 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1XU, UK. It is Peter Chasseaud's project for a working 18th-century ‘common press’ in the environment of an 18th century printing house, with type cases, cabinets, frames and the compositor’s ‘stone’. Posters, broadsheets, pamphlets and books will be printed on the press, which will also be used to show the complexities of letterpress technology and the crucial importance of the printed word in disseminating ideas.

Friday 13 June 2008

Tom Paine Printing Press under construction

Alan May has just sent me this photo of the Common Press (destined for The Tom Paine Printing Press in Lewes) under construction in his workshop. Sitting on it are parts of four miniature presses which he is also constructing. The full-size press will be operational for the Tom Paine bicentenary in July 2009.

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Welcome to The Tom Paine Printing Press

The Tom Paine Printing Press is Peter Chasseaud's project to set up a working 18th Century style wooden Common Press in Lewes, Sussex. This press, which should be operational from early 2009, will be accessible to artists and writers to print their own works, and will also be open to the public for demonstrations and courses.

The town of Lewes will, in July 2009, be staging a big festival to commemorate the bicentenary of Paine's death, and The Tom Paine Printing Press will be on show and fully working during this important festival.

Peter Chasseaud - see http://peterchasseaud.blogspot.com
- is an artist, writer and producer of artist's books who has lived in Lewes since 1973. He has been a member of the Headstrong Club (founded in 1987 on the 250th anniversary of Paine's birth) for 21 years, has served on its committee for many years, and was a founder-member of the Tom Paine Project in 2000.

Tom Paine Printing Press

Friday 13 June 2008