In 1977, the Elsteds were working toward their PhD's in English literature at the University of London when they met Graham Williams of the Florin Press, who introduced them to letterpress printing using movable type and hand presses.
By the time they returned to Canada in 1978 they had abandoned their academic careers, purchased type and a few presses, and were "determined to make beautiful books for the rest of their lives".
The design and typesetting (usually by hand) are by Crispin, and the presswork by Jan.[2] The press publishes in several main areas—literary classics, translations, typography, and books on wood engraving.
They publish works that they themselves would like to read, with a particular focus (to quote Jan) on "books which celebrate wood engravings as an art form."'
[4] Since 2021 they have been joined at the press by their daughter, Felicity Elsted, who works as a printer and compositor on a part-time basis.