A Tradition That Leaves an Impression
At Longbourn, we believe some things are too beautiful to rush. Letterpress printing is one of them.
Long before digital design and instant inkjets, there was letterpress: a centuries-old craft that quite literally leaves its mark—pressing inked type or illustration into thick, cotton paper to create texture you can both see and feel. It’s a quiet rebellion against the forgettable. A small, deliberate act of permanence in a world of swipe and scroll.
We print every Longbourn piece on an Original Heidelberg Windmill press—an engineering marvel first introduced in Germany in the early 20th century. Known for its rhythmic swoosh and clack, this press still turns out exquisite prints nearly a hundred years later. It requires presence, patience, and the human touch: ink is mixed by hand, sheets are guided into place with care, and every impression is inspected for precision. There’s no shortcut—only intention.
The journey from ink to paper is as thoughtful as the final result. Ink is blended to hue by eye, often with nothing more than a palette knife. The press transfers it to a custom plate made for each design, then pulls each sheet into place with a graceful dance of gears and suction arms. That final moment—when paper meets plate—leaves a deep, beautiful impression that no modern printer can replicate. No two are quite the same, and that’s exactly the point.
In an age of automation, letterpress remains a celebration of craft. It invites you to slow down. To run your fingers across texture. To notice what care feels like.
At Longbourn, we are proud to carry forward this tradition. Our Heidelberg is more than a machine—it’s the heartbeat of everything we make.
