The Thorniley Collection

Of Antique Type

The collection originated with William O. Thorniley (Bill), who from the age of 9, was fascinated by type when he was given a small printing press for Christmas.

During his lifetime, he traveled extensively in his job, and constantly was on the lookout for old fonts of type. From Alaska to New England, to the deep south where he found type used before the Civil War, to California, obtaining fonts used during the Gold Rush.  He built a print shop in his basement, turning his interest in type into a lifetime hobby.

R.W. Abrams (Dick), West Coast Paper, purchased the collection in 1975 but it remained in Bill Thorniley’s possession until his death in 1979.  Dick and Bill both shared a desire to have the collection kept in Seattle, serving as an educational resource and honoring the local graphics arts community.

The William O. Thorniley Collection of Antique Type currently resides at the company’s facility in Kent, Washington.  Tours are scheduled , when John DeNure, curator, is on hand to answer questions and to share his knowledge of the lost art of letterpress printing.

Bill Thorniley probably never realized how far reaching and influential his hobby of letterpress printing would become.


The Thorniley Collection of Antique Type Photo Gallery

**Photography by Theresa Van Ert, pearldezine.carbonmade.com











The Thorniley Collection of Antique Type Photo Gallery