Canterbury’s private presses

I’d like to give a brief overview or introduction to the work of several private presses operating out of Christchurch during the mid to late 20th century. These include Bill Sutton’s Templar Press, Ed Cutler’s Cock and Bull Press, Alan Loney’s Hawk Press, Leo Bensemann’s Huntsbury Press, Rod Ell’s Chiswell Press and Bob Gormack’s Nag’s Head Press. All of these presses operated out of residential suburban garages or sheds and apart from Hawk Press were non-commercial in focus. This is highlighted with a Huntsbury Press book being printed in an edition of 100 of which none were for sale.

These presses were often humble in nature and output and were the antithesis of the lofty ideals held by the British private press movement of achieving perfection in printed matter. In all cases the material they printed was what they chose to print rather than being driven by a commercial market. They were, apart from Loney, hobby printers which is what makes them so interesting to me. They were also operating at a time when the printing industry was turned on its head as it transformed from letterpress printing to off-set and digital technologies. As a result they were able to acquire obsolete printing equipment and use it to their advantage.

That’s a bit of a general overview and I would also like to dive deeper into the Templar Press, focusing on this press and its printed material drawing on my article published in 2009 titled ‘A fork lunch and a drink or two: ephemera from the Templar Press 1966-1983’.

There’s a noticeable absence of women letterpress printers in the above list. I’ve been unable to locate any and while acknowledging this absence I would also make mention of Hilda Lovell-Smith, a feminist and step-daughter of Kate Sheppard, who was one of the few women to work in Christchurch’s printing trade during early 20th century.

I am a curator at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū where I have curated exhibitions and contributed to numerous publications since the mid-2000s. I have advocated for the development of a dedicated rare book / artist’s book collection at the Gallery and alongside art exhibitions have also curated exhibitions on The Pear Tree Press, Fernbank Studios, Holloway Press, Caxton Press and the book designer Max Hailstone. I am a nocturnal letterpress printer operating out a garage in Burnside, Christchurch printing invitations, flyers, record covers, posters, keepsakes and books.