Is our Washington hand press a proofing press?

We are often asked about the history of our Washington hand press. It was made in 1852 in Cincinnati, Ohio by the Charles Foster & Brother Company. It was initially used for publication work such as newspapers and books. However, as other more efficient printing presses were invented, many hand presses were still used as proofing presses. After type was set, the first print you made was called a “proof.” This was done so it could be proofread for errors. In this video, Howard discusses proofing presses and why pulling a proof is very important. #sacramento #museum #printing #letterpress #typography #printingpress