Rocket Press publications and ephemera collection

From 1981 to 1994, The Rocket Press was one of the few modern private presses in Britain that operated full-time. The main function of the press was to create aesthetically unique and high quality letterpress books both under its own imprint as well as for other publishers. Ephemeral printing was also done to allow for new design challenges and to generate additional cashflow. Most notably, The Rocket Press was commissioned by McMillan Publishers, London, to print Sir John Tenniel's illustrations for Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass" from the original 92 wood blocks which were discovered in the vaults of the National Westiminster Bank, Covent Garden, London, in 1985. The Rocket Press was started in 1981 by Jonathan Stephenson. Stephenson first started experimenting with printing at school at the age of eleven. Eventually, he set up his own workshop in his bedroom. By the age of sixteen, Stephenson had outgrown the space and moved his workshop into the stable house at his father's church in Steventon near Abingdon. It is in this location where he officially started The Rocket Press and published his first real books. In 1984, the press relocated to a corner of Steve Donoghue's former racing stables at Blewbury in Oxfordshire. Jonathan coordinated the entire printmaking process himself. However, he also enlisted the help of his brother, David, for folding and editorial work as well as Mr. John Bowley of the Oxford University Press for hand-setting and page make-up.

In 1994, Jonathan Stephenson shifted his focus to art and opened Rocket Gallery in London.