Golden Slumbers: California’s Dormant Fine Press Scene

Sponsored by The Book Club of California.

Building on themes from his book, Dreaming on the Edge: Poets & Book Artists in California, Alastair Johnston explores overlooked figures in the history of printing in the Golden State. Johnston’s work was the first in 80 years to assess the impact of small and fine presses on the culture of California, challenging the long-held notion that the state’s printing was dominated by just three figures: John Henry Nash and Edwin and Robert Grabhorn. Johnston argues that it’s time to move past this “printerly atavism” to uncover a spirit of innovation and creativity that mirrors the pioneering drive of 19th-century railroad barons and 20th-century tech giants. For Johnston, a true fine press isn’t merely about good printing—that’s a given—but about being innovative, creative, and original.

An in-person and virtual presentation by Alastair Johnston, author, scholar, and co-founder of Poltroon Press.

Lieberman Lecture | Enduring Impressions: Private Presses & Their Legacies | American Printing History Association 2025 Conference

To register to attend online: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yH92wGJ0S2ePmgo1UUDILA#/registration