Explore our exclusive posters, featuring images from the Newberry’s collections, as well as one-of-a-kind designs by esteemed local artisans such as Starshaped Press.
Newberry Posters
Traditionally, broadsides were used like posters to announce events or proclamations. This contemporary broadside was used to promote our exhibition Melville: Finding America at Sea. It features text of Melville’s poem “Tom Deadlight” drawn from the Northwestern-Newberry Edition of Melville's Published Poems (the definitive textual edition of Melville's works).
Arranged in the shape of a whale's tail, the beautifully printed text diminishes in size as it descends the page and is accompanied by ornaments representing corpse lights treated with glow-in-the-dark ink.
A colophon at bottom left displays the number of the print and commemorates the exhibition, which was held at the Newberry Library in 2019 (the bicentennial of Melville’s birth).
This gorgeous print was produced for the Newberry by the Chicago print company the Starshaped Press in a limited edition of just 200 copies. 11 by 14", classic small poster size.
This 11x14” broadsheet was designed and printed by Starshaped Press in Chicago for 'Renaissance Invention: Stradanus’s Nova Reperta'. It is letterpress printed entirely from antique metal type and ornament in homage to a history of creating images of the printing trade with the very materials that made it possible. Limited signed edition of 50 prints on Neenah cotton paper. Available only at The Newberry Library.
Given our old-school predilection for print, we found a kindred spirit in Starshaped Press, the print shop behind this exclusive letterpress print depicting our beautiful building.
Since 1999, Chicago-based Starshaped Press has stayed true to the original craft of letterpress. Using antique metal and wood type, the shop has bucked popular trends by showcasing the beauty and relevance of well-designed, historic type. Unlike most letterpress shops, Starshaped Press focuses on reusing existing materials (some over 150 years old) for all projects—meaning that no plastic is ever used in production.
This handsome poster is a stellar expression of the shop’s style and ethos, 9 by 12", fabulous for framing.