Big Wheel Press

Big Wheel Press Big Wheel Press is a traditional letterpress studio printing invitations, fine art and folk art broa

Our embossing die has been tweaked and now our Dove of Peace weathervane cards are online.  Our first die was too high a...
07/08/2026

Our embossing die has been tweaked and now our Dove of Peace weathervane cards are online. Our first die was too high and had sharp points that caused the cover stock we use to tear. But now it looks beautiful. I think George Washington would like to use this card as his personal stationery.

You can find the original weather vane at Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center and a replica is at Mount Vernon. You can have your own by visiting our website.





We are working hard to get our Dove of Peace weathervane card ready for the 4th of July.  This weathervane topped the cu...
06/28/2026

We are working hard to get our Dove of Peace weathervane card ready for the 4th of July. This weathervane topped the cupola of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Our team is using foil embossing (combo stamping) which uses a heated sculptured metal die to apply both pressure (creating a raised physical dimension) and foil in a single pass to create this replica.

The story behind the Dove of Peace is that while presiding over the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787, George Washington took advantage of being in Philadelphia to commission master builder Joseph Rakestraw to construct a weathervane for his cupola. Washington determined the ornament’s dove-of-peace design. He also instructed his nephew George Augustine Washington, who oversaw the weathervane’s installation that August, to paint “the bill of the bird…black, and the Olive branch in its mouth…green.” Drawing on classical iconography, Washington’s weathervane symbolized domestic peace for the new nation that would endure no matter which way or how hard the winds of time might blow.

Just a few more tweaks to get the foil perfect.





The Curacao National Football team held Ecuador to a draw in their FIFA game last week, largely due to the 15 saves by t...
06/22/2026

The Curacao National Football team held Ecuador to a draw in their FIFA game last week, largely due to the 15 saves by their amazing goalkeeper Eloy Room. This week Curacao plays against Ivory Coast in Philadelphia. Curacao is the smallest country to ever play in the World Cup. Big Wheel is rooting for them with a very limited edition greeting card. Big Wheel’s founder, William Statius Muller, family is originally from Curacao. His grandfather spoke Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, and English.





New letterpress bookmarks rolling out at Big Wheel Press.  Our William Morris note cards are printed on a beautiful roug...
06/20/2026

New letterpress bookmarks rolling out at Big Wheel Press. Our William Morris note cards are printed on a beautiful rough watercolor paper made at the St. Cuthberts Mill in Wells, England. Each sheet has a deckle edge along the two long sides. I have been saving the deckled strips that are surplus from prepping the sheets and hoarding them for a new line of bookmarks. We are starting with a few Henry David Thoreau quotes, BUT we are taking requests. Email us with any ideas.





After our soccer game in Chicopee, MA I headed over to Holyoke to see what my friend John Barrett was up to at his amazi...
06/13/2026

After our soccer game in Chicopee, MA I headed over to Holyoke to see what my friend John Barrett was up to at his amazing Letterpress Things shop. Wow! I left with a bag full of tubed letterpress ink (great for mixing colors when you just need a dab of a color). And I found many engravings that will soon appear on Big Wheel Press greeting cards. T.S. Eliot’s typewriter, a few clipper ships, a hand alphabet, and more.

Check out John’s website for open dates or call to make an appointment. www.letterpressthings.com





Your chance to vote!  Here are three versions of a favorite Benjamin Franklin quote.  Tell us which one you love and we ...
06/09/2026

Your chance to vote! Here are three versions of a favorite Benjamin Franklin quote.

Tell us which one you love and we will choose the winner to print on one of our antique letterpresses.

It is a card to send or to frame and hang in the guest room! Perfect for those with houses near the beach. Benjamin Franklin famously popularized this phrase in his 1736 edition of Poor Richard’s Almanack. The observation warns hosts and guests alike that after 72 hours, the initial charm of a visit inevitably wears off and becomes tiresome.






greetingcard
poorrichardsalmanack
americanrevolution
declarationofindependence
franklininstitue

So where is the next train show going to be for big wheel Press? We will be at the Museum Store Association convention i...
04/06/2026

So where is the next train show going to be for big wheel Press? We will be at the Museum Store Association convention in Philadelphia in May and will be at the New England independent bookseller’s event in Danbury Massachusetts in April.

Water skiing season is coming soon!  Don’t miss the fun on Nashawannuck Pond in Easthampton, MA.  Pick up your official ...
04/04/2026

Water skiing season is coming soon! Don’t miss the fun on Nashawannuck Pond in Easthampton, MA. Pick up your official Ski Team greeting card or poster at Guild Art Supply by the waterfall at the pond. Available soon on the Big Wheel Press site.





Getting ready for the next round of shows.  We will be in Danvers, MA for the NEIBA Spring Forum April 18.  And at the M...
03/22/2026

Getting ready for the next round of shows. We will be in Danvers, MA for the NEIBA Spring Forum April 18. And at the Museum Store association show in Philadelphia in May.

Prototyping cards for customers in Maine and for the upcoming shows.




cards


Day one at New England Made show in Portland Maine. I’m seeing lots of our regular customers. Stop by and see all our ne...
03/14/2026

Day one at New England Made show in Portland Maine. I’m seeing lots of our regular customers. Stop by and see all our new cards

Address

1 Cottage Street
Easthampton, MA
01027

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 4pm
Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

(413) 203-1700

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