Fine press printing and publishing comprises historical and contemporary printers and publishers publishing books and other printed matter of exceptional intrinsic quality and artistic taste, including both commercial and private presses. Their dedication to fine printing distinguishes them from other small presses. Fine press publications are often published in limited editions, that are swiftly bought up by book collectors and libraries.
As part of the Art Nouveau movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Englishman William Morris wanted to harken back to a golden age of printing, printmaking, and publishing. One of the books they published was the Kelmscott Chaucer. Soon, fine presses began to spring up in the United States as well. The most prominent was the Roycroft Press. Los Angeles was a center of the fine press movement, particularly centered on the Ward Ritchie press
Alderbrink Press (1897 - 1928?)Blue Sky Press (1899–1906)Clerk's Press (1908–1919)Cranbrook Press (1900–1902)Elston Press (1900–1904)Marion Press (1896–1931)The Mosher Press (1891 - 1923+) Set up by Thomas Bird Mosher in 1891, in Portland, MainePhilosopher Press (1896–1904)Roycroft Press (1896 - 1915+) Set up by Elbert Hubbard in 1895Trovillion Press at the Sign of the Silver Horse Set up by Hal W. Trovillion in Herrin, Illinois in 1908Hammer Creek Press (1950–1962)Colt Press, San FranciscoGrabhorn Press, San FranciscoJohn Henry Nash, San FranciscoPlantin Press, Los Angeles. Founded by Saul and Lillian Marks, in 1931Saunders Studio Press, Claremont. Founded by Lynne and Ruth Thompson Saunders in 1927Ward Ritchie PressArion Press, San FranciscoAshendene Press (1894–1935Daniel Press Oxford (1874–1903)Doves Press (1900–1916) - Founded by T. J. Cobden-Sanderson and Emery WalkerEragny Press (1894–1914)Essex House Press (1898–1910)Folio Society - Founded by Charles Ede in 1947Golden Cockerel Press - Founded by Harold Midgley Taylor in 1920Gregynog Press (1922-) - Founded by Gwendoline and Margaret DaviesKelmscott Press (1891–1898) - Set up by William Morris in 1891Nonesuch Press - Founded in 1922 by Francis and Vera Meynell, and David GarnettThe Press of Gaetano PolidoriStrawberry Hill Press of Horace WalpoleVale Press (1896–1905)Vincent PressAd insigne pinus (1594–1619) In AugsburgFinlay Press founded and operated by Phil Day (artist) and Ingeborg Hansen in Australia. 1997-2009.