Exhibit highlights the ART of the printed word

The proliferation of fine and private pressed books in America can be traced to the end of the 19th century. A new exhibit at the Van Pelt Dietrich Library at the University of Pennsylvania explores the craft’s history and niche.

NewsWorks Tonight host Dave Heller speaks with Lynne Farrington, curator at the library’s rare books collection, and Jean-Francois Vilain, whose collection is showcased in the exhibit, about the phenomena of privately pressed books. Private pressed books are those that are individually printed by hand, rather than by a machine. The craft is still practiced today, often referred to as fine press printing.