The Typoretum story.
Justin Knopp’s first practical introduction to letterpress printing came whilst studying BA (hons) Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design (1991-1994). After spending two days in the College’s Composing Room – a 1950s time capsule deep down in the bowels of the building – he quickly became fascinated by the creative potential of the process and by the ancient skills and ingenious machines employed to make it all happen.
Since graduating, his involvement with letterpress printing has deepened and he gradually acquired a substantial collection of lead and wooden types, printing machines and other paraphernalia – much of which he rescued and restored to working order.
A few years prior to this Justin’s late Uncle, Ernest Mansfield, saved for him a Monotype typeface sample book from Royle’s, where he was a Compositor and witnessed the sudden shift from letterpress to newer technology. For weeks piles of typecases, composing room equipment and wooden type burned behind the factory – it is from one of these bonfires that he rescued this specimen book.
Further back than this, the primary school that Justin attended in Tiptree, Essex, stood in the shadow of the Anchor Press; a factory engaged in book printing for the Hutchinson Printing Trust and for many years the largest book printer in the country.
typoretum operates with the support of his wife, Cecilia, and occasional artistic input from their three year-old daughter!
