The Sign of the Two Ravens

T. A. White has worked as a Librarian, and once & future Printer, for over 30 years.

The philosopher Anaxagoras said it is by having hands that humans are the smartest of all animals. I know this to be true, because my mind is fully alive when I work with my hands. Inspired by medieval manuscripts and early printed books, I work with my hands, a letter at a time, setting historic typefaces and creating printing blocks to pay homage to a fifteen hundred year old tradition of book arts.

I work on a Chandler & Price Old Style Letterpress, 1200 lbs. of iron cast in 1906, and powered by a foot treadle. My typefaces, are referred to as “old style,” their design inspiration coming from types from the birth of printing in the 15th century. My images are photo-engravings from my pen & ink sketches. Or, alternatively, I hand-carve, hand-ink, and hand-press large linoleum prints.

I use my own writings & my encounters with the denizens of the greenwood at the edges of Duluth to give other old book arts traditions, drollery & fable, a modern touch. I create limited edition modern broadsides (single-sided prints that include words & images) and occasionally limited edition hand-bound books. My editions are limited to 30 prints or less. When an edition is sold out it is closed. If you buy a print of mine, you will be one of only thirty people to own one.