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Albion Press

The Albion Press was invented by Richard Cope in England in the early 1820's. The press was noted for its lighter weight, ease of use, and quicker, shorter pull than the other presses of the time. When Cope died in 1828, the executors of his estate (J&J Bartlett) continued his press manufacturing company by having John Hopkinson (Cope's foreman) run the business. For a while all three names were on the press. However, from 1840 onward, the company was known as "Hopkinson & Cope." The word "Albion," another name for England, was probably choosen to distinguish it from its chief rival from United States, the " Columbian." The Albion was in production until the 1940's.

The Albion Press in the McCune Collection was manufactured of iron and steel at London in 1852 by Hopkinson & Cope. It received the number #3294. It is a demy sixe, 24 x 18 inches at the platen, stands 6 foot six inches and weighs just under 2000 pounds.

Albion PressAlbion PressAlbion Press

The press was bought by Dr. McCune, upon the advice of Roger Levenson of the Tamalpais Press at Berkeley. It was purchased from Hewitt Bros. of Field St, London. Dr. McCune secured the press in a close race with the University of Texas. Luckily, his serendipitous cablegram arrived in time for him to obtain the press. The Albion Press, a Brayer ink-table, and an unclothed 18 inch roller cost Dr. McCune $1040 F.O.B. San Francisco; freight and erection added $300. He received the press in July 1968.

During the next few years, Dr. McCune hand-printed many broadsides and booklets on this press, and this continued until his stroke in 1971. He donated the press to the Vallejo Public Library along with his book collection. All these items were placed in the special collections room of John F. Kennedy Library and are an integral part of the McCune Collection. The Albion Press has been reconditioned and the McCune Press Society has been formed as a sub-group to the McCune Committee to encourage use of this fine press.

Corner View Albion PressFront ViewCorner ViewFront View Top SectionFront Top Half ViewTop Half ViewFront View of Handle MechanismFront ViewFront View Close-upDetail on HandleTop View of Bolster and Rails Tympan HingeView of Rounce and GirthsBack View from underneath of Rounce and GirthsUnderneath View showing the girths (bands of cloth) around the rounceOrnate Base and view of the rounce and girthsBack ViewBack Side ViewBack ViewBack View showing the PlatenClose-up of the RearRear View showing PlatenSide View of the RearSide ViewSide ViewSide View of PlatenSide View of the Rear showing the PlatenSide ViewOrnate BaseFront Side ViewSide View of the Albion PressClose-up View of Handle to Move RounceView of Bar HandleSide View showing Bar HandleSide View of Handle MechanismSide View showing part of handle on leftClose-up ViewBack View of Handle MechanismBack ViewToggle Mechanism - back viewBack ViewToggle MechanismBack ViewBack ViewBack ViewToggle MechanismFront View of Handle MechanismSide View close-up of Handle MechanismClose-up ViewSide View close-upClose-upClose-up ViewSide View close-upToogle Mechanism - side viewToogle MechanismToggle Mechanism showing the wedge in the centerClose-up ViewOrnate Frame Head

Gallery

The Sign March 1970To a Waterfowl August 1970Vallejo AlbionYou YouJune 1969Library Groundbreaking Sept 1968Hymn -Roman Liturgy 1Jan 70Haec Est Officina TypographicaA Printer page 1A Printer page 2A Printer page 3Ad Dante 001Ad DanteBeagle Press MarkBeagle Press May 1968Dedicated ToGeorgicon Aug 1969Georgicon II Nov. 1969 page 1Georgicon II Nov. 1969 page 2Georgicon II Nov. 1969 page 3Little Black Boy page 1Little Black Boy page 2Little Black Boy page 3Little Black Boy page 4Obiter Dictum Apr. 1969Resolution Nov. 1968The Generation Gap Sept. 1968 page 1The Generation Gap Sept. 1968 page 2