The American Printing History Association encourages the study of printing history and its related arts and skills, including calligraphy, typefounding, typography, papermaking, bookbinding, illustration, and publishing. APHA is especially, but by no means exclusively, interested in American printing history. Founded in 1974, APHA encourages the preservation of printing artifacts and source materials for printing history; APHA promotes research and scholarship through its annual conference and Lieberman lectures on a selected theme in printing history and through its oral history project and fellowship program; APHA publishes research in its scholarly journal Printing History as well as its Newsletter and special publications; and APHA recognizes distinguished achievement in the field of printing history through its annual individual and institutional awards. APHA's regional chapters sponsor active programs of lectures, field trips, and other opportunities to meet fellow APHA members on an informal basis. APHA now boasts over 700 members worldwide.


The American Printing History Association has the following scholarly, educational and charitable objectives:

1) To encourage the study of printing history, especially American printing history, in all its facets from a world context to national, regional, state and local interests, and including all the arts and technologies relevant to printing, book arts and letter forms;

2) To produce and promote publications, exhibitions, conferences, lectures and other functions, at both national and local levels, by which information and ideas relating to printing history may be exchanged;

3) To foster the development and maintenance of libraries and museums for the preservation of materials bearing on printing history, including specimens of printing and the equipment and materials used in printing; and

4) To cooperate with other organizations, institutions and individuals to recognize the central importance of printing to humanity.

Join APHA Membership!

Early American Indian Squaw with Bow and Arrows. A finely detailed graphic on this cut of a native American Indian Squaw. She is wearing highly ornate clothing and native jewelry. Holding her bow with an arrow ready to fire. Electrotype copper face mounted on boxwood printer’s block. It measures 1 7/16” x 2 1/8”. No foundry identification marking.



American Indian Squaw Surveying

A gorgeous late 19th century cut that shows a Native American Indian Squaw. She is wearing tribal clothing and is surveying the distance with hand up over her brow. Her bow and arrow quiver at her side. Electrotype copper face mounted on boxwood printer’s block. It measures 1 1/8” x 2 ¼”. No foundry identification marking.




1892 Indian Warrior w Tobacco Harvest

A very beautiful 19th century block that shows an American Indian Warrior holding his peace pipe. He is sitting on a bundle of tobacco and other bundles and packages can be seen around him. It has fine detailing, down to his earrings and nose ring. Electrotype copper face mounted on boxwood printer’s block. It measures 2 1/8” x 2 1/16”. It has a foundry marking on one side by Golding and Company Type Foundry, Boston. Years of operation: Unknown.



19th Century American Indian Warrior

A medallion or circular framed portrait of an early Native American Indian Chief. AN exceptional 100+ year-old block. He is wearing a large feathered headpiece and his bow and arrow quiver is also visible. Electrotype copper face mounted on boxwood printer’s block. It measures 2” x 2”. No foundry identification marking.

A late 19th century cut with a highly detailed graphic. It has an early American Indian warrior scouting the distance from atop a rock on the mountaintop. He has what appears to be a primitive rake or other tool. Also wearing a three-feather headpiece, native clothing, and native jewelry. This block has an electrotype copper face mounted on a solid hardwood base. Stamped on one side by Golding and Company Type Foundry, Boston, Massachusetts. This is a 19th century type foundry with no exact date of operation known.


Golding American Indian w Peace Pipe

Another late 19th century cut with a highly detailed graphic. It has a fully adorned American Indian standing at leisure while smoking his peace pipe. He’s wearing a large feathered headpiece, Native American jewelry, and very decoratively embellished native clothing. This block has an electrotype copper face mounted on a solid hardwood base. Stamped on one side by Golding and Company Type Foundry, Boston, Massachusetts. This is a 19th century type foundry with no exact date of operation known.


Improved Order of Redmen Print Block

Finely detailed 19th century cut for the Improved Order of Red Men. It has an opening for customization with 12pt movable type. The current movable type reads: Sassaquah Tribe No.521. The graphic has an Indian chief in the center and has various Native tools and implements around the sides. This block has an electrotype copper face mounted on a solid hardwood base and has no foundry identification stamp. In the late 1700s, social and benevolent Tammany Societies, named after Tamanend, were formed. The most famous of these was New York City's Society of St. Tammany, which grew into a major political machine known as "Tammany Hall." Around 1816, a disenchanted group created the philanthropic "Society of Red Men". From this, the "Improved Order of Red Men" was later formed as a working mans drinking group similar to the Odd Fellows fraternal organization. In 1886 its membership requirements were defined in the same pseudo-Indian phrasing as the rest of the constitution:


Sec. 1. No person shall be entitled to adoption into the Order except a free white male of good moral character and standing, of the full age of twenty-one great suns, who believes in the existence of a Great Spirit, the Creator and Preserver of the Universe, and is possessed of some known reputable means of support.