One of the relatively youngest of the established private press, Grenfell Press was born as late as 1979, when many other private presses were fully turning digital. Founded by Leslie Miller, the Grenfell instead boast a clean and minimal art house design that promotes excellence and professionalism in their work.
One of the intriguing things for the collector of private press materials, is that we are not so restrained by prestige and time as with other book collectors. While many other collectors strive to develop a sort of archaeological sixth sense to detect which contemporary writers will become collectible legends in the future, for those interested in private presses and letter-press construction we need only look at the skill and professionalism of those involved.
Grenfell is one of the fairly young companies that I would urge people to start paying more attention to, as they have already had their work exhibited in such places as The Getty Centre, the Library of Congress, The Metropolitan Museum of Art as well as the Museum of Modern Art. But not only these facts, but their choice to turn away from digital printing and instead work on hand-printed books with such literary giants as William S. Burroughs, Robert Creely, Guy Davenport and Susan Howe speaks of their commitment to excellence.
Currently, they work very closely with museums and library collections to provide type catalogs and inventories and monographs for archives, which themselves are highly collectible. If your personal collection features the history of the private press, then you may do well to purchase a few of the type-face catalogs from Grenfell, which go to showcase their skills and fonts available. In the future these items could well form intriguing elements in the development of the private press in America.
Links:http://www.grenfellpress.com/about.html
Brooke, S W. Stately Progress. Grenfell Press (1980). A Tale of Ducal Profligacy and Providence; 15 drawings photo-engraved by master-engraver Leo Bazikian; 111 copies
Miller, Leslie. The Grenfell Press Typefaces. Grenfell Press (1980). 85 copies; one etching and two linocuts
Bukowski, Charles. Aftermath of a Lengthy Rejection Slip. Grenfell Press (1983). 150 numbered copies
Sobin, Gustaf. Ten Sham Haikus for my friend, Brad Morrow.. Grenfell Press (1983). First edition. One of only 29 copies printed in celebration of Gustaf's vis it to New York, April 1983, signed by Sobin Small 8vo, original wrappers. As new.
Davenport, Guy. The Bowmen of Shu. Grenfell Press (1983). 125 copies; 12 illustrations by the author and five reproductions of drawings by Gaudier-Brzeska
Frasconi, Antonio. The First Editor: Aldus Pius Manutius. Grenfell Press (1983). 250 numered copies; woodcuts by Frasconi
Dowell, Coleman. The Silver Swanne. Grenfell Press (1983). 115 copies signed
Lauterbach, Ann. Sacred Weather. Grenfell Press (1984). 115 signed and numbered copies; drawing by Louisa Chase
Gass, William H. Culp. Grenfell Press (1985). Frontispiece by Malcolm Morley; 100 copies
Hawkes, John. Innocence in Extremis. Grenfell Press (1985). frontis by T L Solien; 118 copies
Riddelsdell, Rev. H J. Flora Of Gloucestershire. Grenfell Press (1986). 2 volumes; 40 black and white plates; colour plate frontispiece; folding maps
Cole, Peter. Rift. Grenfell Press (1986). woodcut by Joel Shapiro; 150 copies
Burroughs, William S. The Cat Inside. Grenfell Press (1986). 115 numbered copies; total edition of 133 copies; 7 drawings by Brion Gysin
Laughlin, James. The House of Light. Grenfell Press (1986). 200 signed and numbered copies;12 woodcuts by Vanessa Jackson
Mathews, Henry. Singular Pleasures. Grenfell Press (1988). 325 numbered copies; lithographs by Francesco Clemente
Cima, Annalisa. Hypotheses on Love. Grenfell Press (1989).
Morrow, Bradford. A Bestiary. Grenfell Press (1990). 100 copies, 50 were for sale; artists include Gregory Amenoff, Joe Andoe, James Brown, Vija Celmins, Louisa Chase, Eric Fischl, Jan Hashey, Michael Hurson, Mel Kendrick, James Nares, Ellen Phelan, Joel Shapiro, Kiki Smith, David Storey, Michelle Stuart, Richard Tuttle, Trevor Winkfield, and Robin Winters; woodcut, linoleum cut and pochoir included
Howe, Susan. The Nonconformist's Memorial. Grenfell Press (1992). 65 copies; original woodcuts by Robert Mangold
Laughlin, James. Angelica. Fragment From An Autobiography. Grenfell Press (1993). 200 copies
Creeley, Robert. Life and Death. Grenfell Press (1993). 70 copies
Peter, Sarah. 36 Drawings. Grenfell Press (1994). 500 copies numbered and signed
Tarn, Natasha. Multitude of One. Grenfell Press (1994). 11 original prints by Gregory Amenoff; 45 copies
Peter, Sarah. Thirty-Six Drawings. Grenfell Press (1994). sketches by Peter; 500 copies
Winters, Terry. Ocular Proofs. Grenfell Press (1995). 170 copies and a deluxe edition of 20 with original frontispiece; 47 black and white illustrations
Ashbery, John. Novel. Grenfell Press (1998). 100 copies; ten drawings by Trevor Winkfield
Guest, Barbara. Outside of This, That is. Grenfell Press (1999). 26 copies; original colored print by Trevor Winkfield
Plimpton, Sarah. Steps to Answer. Grenfell Press (2000). 20 copies; original woodcuts by Sarah Plimpton
Resnick, Donald. Donald Resnick: Drawings. Grenfell Press (2002). 500 copies