Alphabe Thursday … K is for Keepsake Press

K is for Keepsake Press.  What a lovely word! As usual I struggled to find good example; but am pleased with the result.  Among the many publisher’s archives we have here at Special Collections we have a few that come from small private presses, one of which is the Keepsake Press.  From this point my knowledge falters and I am reluctant to spout stuff that can easily be found ‘online’ if required.

It is Roy Lewis I am particularly interested in; he was born Ernest Michael Roy Lewis in 1913.  He was interested in printing from a young boy; he sold his train set and tin soldiers to buy his first press.  He began by printing letter heads, programs, tickets and even his own magazine.  

Later, his father a chemist also interested in amateur printing gave him the money to buy better machinery, tools and type. Roy Lewis went on to become an accomplished and respected printer, remarkably in his garden shed. He never aspired to fine printing and was particularly interested in works, usually poetry that would otherwise not be published.  His business was a one man band and a part-time operation.  Also the publishing was only done at weekends and evenings; so it never interfered with his career as a writer and his travel schedule as an international correspondent.  

He had what seemed an enviable lifestyle and others shared the view that he was ‘good company  … and it was quite a mystery how he managed his time, because he never seemed t be rushing from place to place.  He always had time for people and seemed to sleep his full eight hours.  It is quite extraordinary how he never wasted a minute.  I can’t think of anyone who enjoyed life as much as he did …’ Like I say what a man!

This little selection is from his early work in 1950.