Today was an exciting day up here in Rochester! My school, RIT, has an absolutely fabulous graphic arts library, the Cary Collection. In January, the collection welcomed a major acquisition in the form of what is now known as the Kelmscott-Albion press, dating back to 1891. An Albion press is an early hand press used primarily for book printing – so different from our Vandercook (but just as magical in its own way)! The Cary’s assistant curator Amelia Fontanel has been expertly restoring it to working order since then. Tonight, for the Cary Collection’s 45th anniversary, we saw the opening of 45: Selections from the RIT Cary Graphic Arts Collection and the dedication of this beautiful press. This machine has been owned and operated by greats such as William Morris and Frederic Goudy, as well as the namesake of the Cary Collection, Melbert B. Cary, Jr. Best of all, I got to print with it! Attendees to the opening had the opportunity to print the broadside pictured above featuring custom cuts made especially for this exhibition. I’ve been looking forward to this opening for weeks, and it was wonderful. I was so jazzed, I barely remembered to take pictures! Click on all the links I’ve linked for a better idea of what I’m talking about; it’s very much worth a look for fans of what we do at PRESS.

And one more for good measure! Click here for more information about the Cary Collection. It is one of my favorite things about my university, and I’ll miss it terribly when I graduate in May. If you find yourself up this way, be sure to check it out! We type nerds have got to stick together!