Caxton, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated and dynamic printing houses.
Originally named the Canterbury College Caxton Club and the Caxton Club. The first book to be published, Oriflamme, was produced on a small table-top press in a basement at the Canterbury College. Initially, local poet Denis Glover was the driving force behind the press, but he soon recruited John Drew and Leo Bensemann. In 1951, Glover left and Dennis Donovan joined Leo as a managing director.
The Caxton Press quickly became known for its encouragement of contemporary New Zealand authors and artists. As well as the work of notable writers including James K. Baxter, Ursula Bethell, Charles Brasch, Allen Curnow, A.R.D. Fairburn and Glover himself, it also produced artist’s books by Leo Bensemann, Rona Dyer, E. Mervyn Taylor and illustrated titles with works by artists including Rita Angus.
Caxton’s aspiration to design and print everything from books to signs, print collateral and packaging to the highest standards, have continued through recent decades, under Bruce Bascand, since 1978 and current managing director, Bridget Batchelor, since 2016.
