Nautilus Press & Paper Mill was a private press workshop for hand papermaking, letterpress printing, book arts and bookbinding, started by the late Jane H. Reese, and in operation from c.1979–1999 in Southern Row, London W10.
Key pieces of equipment at London Centre for Book Arts were acquired from Nautilus Press back in 2011, just before we opened. This included two of our letterpress proofing presses, a paper beater (which has since been given a new home with Lucy @lucypaperbax ), board cutter and nipping presses. These machines, once they were up and running, were vital in establishing the workshop at LCBA, forming part of Jane’s legacy.
Photos taken by Mina Bach in 2011, during the removal of the equipment
#janehreese #nautiluspressandpapermill
Letterpress at London Centre for Book Arts
Come learn the ins and outs of letterpress printing with me at London Centre for Book Arts — if you’re brand new to printing then Introduction to Letterpress Printing workshop is the best place to start.
Supervised Sessions are designed for those who want to take the next step in working on their own projects using the letterpress printing facilities at @londonbookarts .
The Sessions are an ideal way to get started on projects such as greeting cards, business cards, invitations, artist books, and posters with help along the way. You will have full access to the letterpress studio, including presses and our extensive collection of wood and metal type and ornaments. The sessions are perfect if you have already taken Introduction to Letterpress but don’t feel quite ready to go it alone!
For more information and to book a spot, see the Workshops section of londonbookarts.org.
Any questions drop me a message, and hope to see you at the studio!
#letterpress #printing
In 2024 I worked with Caragh Thuring on WATCH, a scaled-down and expanded edition of a book we originally produced with the artist on the occasion of her exhibition at @chisenhalegallery in 2015. As with the original, the book features hundreds of print advertisements collected by the artist over a ten year period.
The new edition features a letterpress and lino printed cover using a late 19th century wood letter: the artist wanted a specific yellow to match the previous edition so I decided to print the background as a solid linocut, and the title overprinted in black. The text pages are true to the original: a black and white photocopy onto salmon-pink stock, and perfect bound. Edition of 80.
Available @londonbookarts online and in-store Mon–Sat 10am–6pm (& also available from from @utrecht_nowidea in Japan)
Photos by @irayonemura , process photos by me
#caraghthuring
Thanks to the group who joined us for MAKING BOOKS SCHOOL: Boxes, Slipcases & Portfolios this week, taught by Pauline @paulinekokojane and myself @londonbookarts — five intense days of BOX MAKING where we made slipcases, lidded boxes, matchboxes and magnetic-closure portfolio boxes.
Day of moving and shuffling today: said goodbye to the Josiah Wade platen press, which is returning to @jamesbrown.info in Frome — and moved the Autovic into its place. Received delivery of a lovely little bookbinding press from @sarah_amatt — what a beauty! Huge thanks to Giles @amr_logan_press for the heavy lifting.
Sold out!: CALENDAR 2026 by Yotsume Dye House (よつめ染布舎)
We are open Monday-Saturday 10am—6pm until 21 December. Join us this Saturday 13 December, 11am—5pm for our WINTER OPEN STUDIO and MARKET, where we will have a special selection of books and prints for sale, as well as book launches, portraits by @wilfridwoodsculptor and more!
WINTER OPEN STUDIO & MARKET
Saturday 13 December, 11am–5pm @londonbookarts
It’s the festive winter edition of our popular open studios – a chance to visit our letterpress studio, bindery, publishing studio, gallery & shop, and meet studio members and instructors.
We’ll have a special selection of books and prints for sale as well book launches, portraits by Wilfrid Wood @wilfridwoodsculptor and more TBA.
Free & All Welcome! Don’t Miss!
Poster by Arthur Yu @arthuryu__ 💘
Spent yesterday printing on the platen press: an exhibition card for next week’s Themerson & Themerson: Gaberbocchus Press 1948–1979, which opens next Thursday 18 September, 6:30–9pm @londonbookarts — All welcome!
If anyone would like a stack of the exhibition card drop me a DM and I can post you some
[UPCOMING EXHIBITION]
THEMERSON & THEMERSON
Gaberbocchus Press 1948–1979
18 September – 22 November 2025
Private view: Thursday 18 September, 6:30–9pm
London Centre for Book Arts is delighted to present an exhibition dedicated to Gaberbocchus Press, the avant-garde publishing house founded and run collaboratively by Franciszka and Stefan Themerson in London, 1948. Together they published and illustrated more than sixty titles over thirty one years, introducing seminal experimental European writers to a British audience.
A guiding principle of the press was to publish “best-lookers rather than best-sellers” resulting in striking, unconventional designs and a quietly radical commitment to publish books not for profit, but to create a platform for art and literature that was deemed unpublishable by the mainstream. Playful, anarchic and enduringly independent in all their activities, the Themersons and Gaberbocchus Press resisted categories and conventions and when asked about the strengths and weaknesses of the press, gave the same answer to both questions: “refusal to conform”.
LCBA thanks the people who made this exhibition possible; Daniel Haynes, Catherine Moore, Harriet Neville, and Joe Hales. With special thanks to Jasia Reichardt and Robert Devčić for their generosity and support.
2. Stefan THEMERSON, Kurt Schwitters in England: 1940-1948, Gaberbocchus Press, 1958.
3. Franciszka Themerson, c. 1969
4. The Gaberbocchus Independent, Gaberbocchus Press, 1956
5. Stefan Themerson, c. 1969
6. The First Dozen, Gaberbocchus Press, 1958
7. Franciszka THEMERSON, The Way It Walks, Black Series, no.3, Gaberbocchus Press, 1954
8. Stefan THEMERSON, St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio or Brother Francis & Lamb Chops, Gaberbocchus Press, 1972
9. Gwen BARNARD, The Shapes of the River, Gaberbocchus Press, 1955
10. Bertrand RUSSELL, History of the World in Epitome, Gaberbocchus Press, 1962
![[UPCOMING EXHIBITION]THEMERSON & THEMERSONGaberbocchus Press 1948–197918 September – 22 November 2025Private view: Thursday 18 September, 6:30–9pmLondon Centre for Book Arts is delighted to present an exhibition dedicated to Gaberbocchus Press, the avant-garde publishing house founded and run collaboratively by Franciszka and Stefan Themerson in London, 1948. Together they published and illustrated more than sixty titles over thirty one years, introducing seminal experimental European writers to a British audience.A guiding principle of the press was to publish “best-lookers rather than best-sellers” resulting in striking, unconventional designs and a quietly radical commitment to publish books not for profit, but to create a platform for art and literature that was deemed unpublishable by the mainstream. Playful, anarchic and enduringly independent in all their activities, the Themersons and Gaberbocchus Press resisted categories and conventions and when asked about the strengths and weaknesses of the press, gave the same answer to both questions: “refusal to conform”. LCBA thanks the people who made this exhibition possible; Daniel Haynes, Catherine Moore, Harriet Neville, and Joe Hales. With special thanks to Jasia Reichardt and Robert Devčić for their generosity and support. 2. Stefan THEMERSON, Kurt Schwitters in England: 1940-1948, Gaberbocchus Press, 1958. 3. Franciszka Themerson, c. 1969 4. The Gaberbocchus Independent, Gaberbocchus Press, 1956 5. Stefan Themerson, c. 1969 6. The First Dozen, Gaberbocchus Press, 1958 7. Franciszka THEMERSON, The Way It Walks, Black Series, no.3, Gaberbocchus Press, 1954 8. Stefan THEMERSON, St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio or Brother Francis & Lamb Chops, Gaberbocchus Press, 1972 9. Gwen BARNARD, The Shapes of the River, Gaberbocchus Press, 1955 10. Bertrand RUSSELL, History of the World in Epitome, Gaberbocchus Press, 1962](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6722594412442647101551_0_12f9ab039a0b1b45d60ff035aa2db70a.jpg?o=aHR0cHM6Ly9zY29udGVudC1vcmQ1LTIuY2RuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS92L3Q1MS44Mjc4Ny0xNS81MzkzNTQ3MjVfMTg1MTc5OTM3MDUwMzU2MjhfMjk1MTY0MzUzMDI4MzIxNzIzN19uLmpwZz9zdHA9YzAuMTgwLjE0NDAuMTQ0MGFfZHN0LWpwZ19lMzVfczY0MHg2NDBfc2gyLjA4X3R0NiZfbmNfaHQ9c2NvbnRlbnQtb3JkNS0yLmNkbmluc3RhZ3JhbS5jb20mX25jX2NhdD0xMDQmX25jX29jPVE2Y1oyZ0U4b3d4cTZSX25USE1fRWo5NDZqQjBXRXBQNDNJY1ByZUZHbEx2T092dW1yNm1XWndlejN5eWt4OHlUY3VqRnYwdWdZOGNvTU9UOXJSS1d3N3ZzZXhLJl9uY19vaGM9MkFFcmp5Wmo4T3NRN2tOdndFZzJxT2QmX25jX2dpZD1Nai0ySWdWUVdLUVpUUEtRbGJGTHN3JmVkbT1BUFU4OUZBQkFBQUEmY2NiPTctNSZvaD0wMF9BZjRxRktyM1NLOXpBSDZ2RElXRUxFSzNsSUk5d0NVMUJyaXVwSVcteW5RcjV3Jm9lPTZBMEY1ODlGJl9uY19zaWQ9YmMwYzJj&h=a14885375c12ad830cf50544f7deff73)
