History of Letterpress in PVD

Did you know that Providence is considered an epicenter for printmakers?

Pied Type: Letterpress Printing in Providence, 1762–Today is an exhibition at the Providence Public Library highlighting the robust history of commercial printing in Rhode Island. In a printshop, pied type refers to jumbled or unsorted letters—usually created by accidentally dropping or spilling metal type. The exhibition will reveal the various roles of craftspeople in the letterpress printing process and delve into the techniques and equipment still used by contemporary printers in Providence today.

The exhibition is on view in the Joan T. Boghossian Gallery, third floor, during regular library hours through January 11, 2025.

image: Lois Harada