Overmatter: Print & passion

In these uncertain times perhaps the soothing act of reading a good book can provide balm for stressed-out souls. And what could be better than a fascinating book about a printing heyday of the past to take one’s mind off political turmoil and what the £/€ rate will be next week?

Look no further then, than Charles Lubelski’s book about renowned Bradford print firm Percy Lund Humphries, once “one of the world’s great printing companies” and with a fascinating history involving cutting-edge printing developments of the day. 

The firm was founded in 1895 and developed a reputation for work of the utmost quality, producing fine art publications for famous artists including Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. 

Even more incredibly, former Watford College senior lecturer Lubelski explores how, during the second world war, the firm also worked in secret for two years on a project to do with the atomic bomb. “Scientists thought they might be able to separate isotopes using the halftone screening process,” he explains. 

The not-for-profit book, Pride Passion & Printing, is a 200pp large octavo format with soft cover, and contains over sixty images – a number in colour.

It was printed by Elvington-based YPS Printing Services and costs £16.99 plus £3 P&P. To order, contact: cdlubelski@talktalk.net.