Last year, Helsinki-based creative collective so_helsinki designed, letterpress printed, and hand-bound a specimen book titled So papers & types. The publication showcases a selection of their wood and metal type collection alongside old and leftover papers rescued from printers’ warehouses. The book was created as both a printed artefact and a practical tool, intended for use in the collective’s upcoming workshops.
The handmade publication spans sixty pages and measures 310 by 420 millimetres. It was produced as a strictly limited edition of ten copies. Every stage of the process was handled in-house, from design and typesetting to printing and binding, reinforcing so_helsinki’s commitment to analogue methods and slow making.
The wood types featured in the book were carved by historically significant foundries, including DeLittle York, Stephenson Blake and Deberny and Peignot. The collective has been building its type collection for around five years, sourcing pieces from across Europe, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Sweden and Finland. The variety of origins and letterforms gives the book both typographic and historical depth, turning it into a record of collected materials as much as a specimen publication.
Printing was carried out using proof presses from the 1970s, including a Korrex Hannover and a FAG Swissproof. These machines were chosen for their ability to handle experimental layouts, varied paper stocks and the subtle pressure required for proof-based letterpress work. The resulting prints emphasise texture, impression and the irregular qualities that come from working with aged equipment and reclaimed materials.
The collective describes the publication simply as a showcase of “wood and metal types plus old, leftover papers saved from printers’ warehouses”. That straightforward intention is reflected in the design. Rather than presenting the materials in a polished or commercial way, the book foregrounds their physical qualities, letting type, paper and ink speak for themselves.
so_helsinki is a small creative collective founded by a graphic designer and a sculptor, working at the intersection of art and design. Their practice is rooted in analogue processes, with letterpress printing at its core. Using old proof presses, they create printed work that values tactility, material awareness and the inherent character of traditional tools.
So papers & types stands as both a reference object and a teaching resource. It reflects the collective’s approach to printmaking as something learned through touch, repetition and close engagement with materials, rather than through digital simulation or shortcuts.
Want to know more about our membership? Give us an email at members@peopleofprint.com.
- Call for Artists: In Limine Artist Residency 2026, Monte Sant’Angelo, Italy - February 10, 2026
- Dream of Venus Examines Material-led Design Through Analogue Printmaking - February 3, 2026
- Words That Sound Like Nothing but Mean Everything - February 1, 2026
