About Us
Arion Press pairs great artists with great literature to create beautiful books by hand.
We publish several limited editions every year, each conceptually unique and printed from metal types cast on site. Our production facility includes a letterpress shop with a one-of-a-kind collection of historic metal typefaces, a type foundry now in continuous operation for over 100 years, and a complete hand book bindery, all housed in a 14,000 square foot industrial building in San Francisco’s Presidio National Park. The Press is supported by the 501(c)(3) non-profit Grabhorn Institute, designated an “irreplaceable cultural treasure” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Institute sponsors apprenticeships, tours, public talks, and gallery exhibitions at the Press.
Fifty years ago, Andrew Hoyem officially founded Arion Press, establishing what would become one of the country’s last fine book printers. Since then, we have released 127 exquisitely handcrafted tomes—classic literature reimagined by contemporary artists, whose singular vision brings a new perspective to the text.
Our diverse and distinct catalogue includes Moby Dick by Herman Melville, produced in 1979 with 100 wood engravings by Barry Moser; The Physiology of Taste by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, published in 1994 with notes by M. F. K. Fisher and 200 drawings by Wayne Thiebaud; and Woolgathering by Patti Smith, created in 2022 with 13 photograms by Christian Marclay. (Our 2024 titles are Kindred and Fables of Aesop.)
News & Updates
The Grabhorn Institute
We publish several limited editions every year, each conceptually unique and printed from metal types cast on site. Our production facility includes a letterpress shop with a one-of-a-kind collection of historic metal typefaces, a type foundry now in continuous operation for over 100 years, and a complete hand book bindery, all housed in a 14,000 square foot industrial building in San Francisco’s Presidio National Park. The Press is supported by the 501(c)(3) non-profit Grabhorn Institute, designated an “irreplaceable cultural treasure” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Institute sponsors apprenticeships, tours, public talks, and gallery exhibitions at the Press.
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Address
2 Marina Boulevard
Landmark Building B, Suite 100
San Francisco, California 94123
Contact Information
Phone: (415) 668-2542
Email: arionpress@arionpress.com
Hours of Operation:
12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays