During the twentieth century, Los Angeles produced a number of fine printers, Saul Marks and Ward Ritchie being familiar names. Perhaps not as well-known was Richard John Hoffman (1912-1989), a native of the city, with a massive output of printed work. Hoffman himself estimated his production at 15 to 20 items of printed material per week over a career spanning 66 years - that comes close to 50,000 items. Not all of it could be described as “fine printing.” Hoffman worked at Los Angeles City College as a teacher and an academic printer from 1933 to 1959, and was an instructor in Graphic Design and Director of the Printing Management Program at California State University, Los Angeles from 1959 to 1978. Upon his retirement he continued to produce printed work of a very high caliber. Hoffman was not a flamboyant character. In 1924, when... [more Richard Hoffman: Prolific & Pioneering Printer]
Blog posts by John Howell
John Howell specializes in California books and ephemera, fine press, miniature books, the history of printing and books, typography, and artists' books.
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Twelve Flowers Arranged According to the Month With Which They are Commonly AssociatedSigned First Editionby Carmen Voss
Fullerton, CA : Ampersand Workshop , 1988
offered by John Howell for Books
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L'Histoire D'Un TournesolSigned First Editionby Carol Cunningham (1925-2013)
Mill Valley, CA : Sunflower Press , 1992
offered by John Howell for Books
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The Old Homestead [or, "Barker Homestead," cf. Wichita Art Museum online]Signed First Editionby Herschel Cary Logan (1901-1987)
No Place : Herschel C. Logan , [1930]
offered by John Howell for Books
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A Rossetti SpringSigned First Editionby Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
Bexhill-on-Sea, UK : Silver Thimble Books , 1996
offered by John Howell for Books
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Landacre & QuinceFirst Editionby Ward Ritchie (1905-1996)
Los Angeles, CA : Dawson’s Book Shop , 1989
offered by John Howell for Books
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Hawai'i One Summer, 1978 Woodcuts by Deng Ming-DaoSigned First Editionby Maxine Hong Kingston (b. 1940)
San Francisco, CA : Meadow Press , 1987
offered by John Howell for Books
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