If anyone wants to keep creating, they have to be about change. Miles Davis.

In 1928 Porter Garnett, who was the director of Laboratory Press, was hired by Helen Flick to design and print a massive catalog for the art collection of Henry Clay Flick. He purchased 2 Albion Super Royal iron hand presses in preparation for the project. Lead Graffiti currently owns one of those presses. In 1994 for The Book Club of California, Jack Stauffacher compiled Porter Garnett : Philosophical Writings on the Ideal Book. Throughout the book, there are several references to the Albion and its environment. Here they are as written.

Page 116. While I was in London I placed with Harrild and Company an order for two super—royal Albin hand0presses and conferred with Mr. (later Sir) Emery Waker regarding the making at a future date, and also with Mr. S. John Hornby regarding the building of the volumes when completed.

Page 39 : starting at line 20. You may remember that I’m not a believer in layouts for printing, preferring to work things out in my head.

Page 70 : A Decalogue for Craftsmen, The Laboratory Press, 1935.

Page 114, starting on line 31. To this end, it was arranged that in the summer of 1929 with a rather specific program which may be stated as follows: To acquire (1) The best paper that could be acquired. English, Dutch, French, or Italian. (2) Type (in the required quantity and sizes), having classical purity, yet differing from other existing designs as those differ among themselves; in short, a distinguished and exclusive typeface. (3) Two hand-presses, the best to be had.

Page 126, starting on line 6. What I have told you of the happenings of December 21st was sufficient for that day. But what happened the day before? Well, my two hand presses were erected in Room 426 Frick Building. There I’m established for the next three years, at least.

purchased our Albion Super Royal in 1928