Matthias Beck veteran

How long have you been printing?

2013

Describe your first encounter with letterpress

My first contact with letterpress printing was in the Verkehrsmuseum in Berlín during a visit with my school class. I think I were about 8 years old.

Where did you learn?

Mostly learning by doing, talking to printers, old manuals and internet.

What super power would you like to have?

A arm with "Printing Press Power" would be practical. :-)

Do you prefer to work alone or with others?

It think it is always more interesting and inspiring to enjoy printing with others, but printing alone is more concentrated and meditative, which for some projects suits better.

What do you most value in your friends?

To enjoy sharing together experiences.

If you were to die and come back as a typeface, which would it be?

Garamond would be nice.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

The Book of Books from Mathieu Lommen.

If you could study with any printer throughout history, who would it be?

Jenson, the time when the Antiqua typefaces were developed seems to me an amazing transition in history.

If you have your own shop, what equipment do you own?

Right now we only work with completely manual presses. We have 2 Boston platen presses and a Sofadi Showcardpress for posters. Some other small proof presses and a mixed collection of wooden and lead type from different countries, mostly Spain, Germany and Italy.

If you could change one thing about your shop, what would it be?

We really would like a bigger proof press like a Korrex or similar to do poster printing more easily.

What’s your day job?

I am a graphic designer