Rocket Press publications and ephemera collection

This collection contains various publications and ephemera printed by The Rocket Press from the personal collection of Ralph Heller. Ralph is the brother of Joshua Heller who, along with his wife Phyllis, established Joshua Heller Rare Books, Inc. in Washington, D.C. in 1985. The material in this collection dates from 1981 to 1994, and it provides a representative example of the work produced by The Rocket Press. The Rocket Press was a private British press started by Jonathan Stephenson in 1981 to create aesthetically unique and high quality printed material.

Fine, small, or private presses are generally owned by an individual or small group and tend to publish items of distinctive content or form. These presses may focus on publishing unconventional writings, artists’ books, illustrated literary texts, little magazines, and other unique items. Fine presses often generate limited runs of works that appeal to the tastes of the printer and a select audience, rather than producing items of broad commercial interest. Also characteristic of fine presses is meticulous attention to craftsmanship with regard to materials and process. Exceptional design as well as the use of premium or handmade paper, high quality inks, and traditional printing methods (such as letterpress) is often emphasized.