Hatch Show Print: The History of a Great American Poster Shop

by Jim Sherraden, Elek Horvath, Paul Kingsbury

In this age of digital media, the handcrafted ethic and aesthetic of a Hatch Show Print poster is beyond compare. Country musicians and magicians, professional wrestlers and rock stars, all have turned to Nashville's historic Hatch Show Print to create showstopping posters. Established in 1879, Hatch preserves the art of traditional printing that has earned a loyal following to this day (including the likes of Beck, Emmylou Harris, and the Beastie Boys). Hatch Show The History of a Great American Poster Shop is the first fully illustrated tour of this iconic print shop and also chronicles the long life and large cast of employees, entertainers, and American legends whose histories are intertwined with it. Complete with 190 illustrations--as well as a special book jacket that unfolds to reveal an original Hatch poster on the reverse-- Hatch Show Print is a dazzling document of this legendary institution.

Genres: Art, Design, History, Nonfiction, Music

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2001

Reviews

[JBP · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like letterpress printed posters--Nashville's Hatch Show Print is one of the holy mecca sites of the art form. They've been a working print shop since the late 19th century and this book covers their ups and down periods while celebrating the glorious posters they've created through the decades. I liked reading about the history of the shop and Nashville, but the star of this book are the recreations of various posters, handbills, photos of the shop and images of the actual letterpress equipment. I was recently in the shop and am kind of in awe of this place, so loved reading more about the history while having the time to really stare at some of the things they've printed in their history.

[Jonathan Keiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic account of Hatch Show Print and their style. Inspirational and entertaining.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for anyone interested in type, layout, or graphic design.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The history is questionable, but the images are amazing!

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of a letterpress legend!