Firecracker Press, 2002-2014 | MGHL Dowd Modern Graphic History Library

The collection is divided into the following series:

Series 1: Posters

Series 2: Books

Series 3: Printed Ephemera

Within each series, the collection is arranged by size.

Firecracker Press (2002-)
Eric Woods

The Firecracker Press is a letterpress and graphic design studio located in Saint Louis, Missouri. It was founded in 2002 by owner Eric Woods. The Firecracker Press uses letterpress printing techniques to create posters, cards, invitations and other paper goods. Their philosophy is stated on their website as:

"We combine antique printing technology with new thinking to design and produce objects that people enjoy seeing and feeling. We use computer design software to conceive ideas but still carve woodblocks and print by hand..."

The shop is currently located at 2838 Cherokee Street and has become an active participant in the neighborhood's recent renaissance through activities such as the Cherokee Print League Holiday Sale. They moved to this location in May 2008 from a previous shop on Chippewa. The shop houses a retail space in front, with workspace and the print shop in the back of the building. There are currently ten printing presses in the shop, whose manufacturing dates range from the 1890s to 1990s. The Riverfront Times designated the shop part of the Best New Local Art Trend in their 2009 Best Of St. Louis Issue.

The Firecracker Press puts out a poetry magazine twice a year called The Lumberyard in conjunction with Typecast Publishing. The Lumberyard has received the 2009 Platinum Award for Graphic Design in the Louisville Graphic Design Association 100 show and several Several Awards of Merit from the AIGA of St. Louis.

Contemporary (style of art)
Letterpress printing
Relief printing