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Living in the shadow of New York and Philadelphia, New Jersey printers are occasionally regarded as the Rodney Dangerfields of the industry—getting precious little respect. But the history of printing in New Jersey has many interesting facets, going back to long before New Jersey geography was defined in terms of exits. This week, Printing News discusses some fascinating elements of the New Jersey printing industry and its history. Here they are in alphabetical order, not in order of importance:

American Type Founders—Generally known as ATF, this company was once the largest type foundry in the world, employing 500 workers in its heyday, and monopolizing the type industry until computers obsoleted moveable type. Headquartered in Jersey City, ATF also operated branches in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Havana (Cuba), and Mexico City.

From 1908 to 1936, ATF maintained the Typographic Library and Museum, under the guidance of ATF employee Henry Lewis Bullen. The museum included more than 12,000 volumes on printing and book arts, plus type exhibits. In 1933, ATF filed for bankruptcy and moved operations to Elizabeth, but Bullen stayed behind in the Jersey City building. In 1936, he found a home for the ATF museum collection in the Rare Books section of Columbia University's Butler Library, where it remains today. In 1983, six ATF employees remained in the Elizabeth plant, still making type, but by 1993 the company had vanished.

William Bradford—Yes, Bradford is perhaps best known as the first printer in Philadelphia (1685) and the first in New York (1693), but he was arguably the first in New Jersey as well. In colonial times, the public printer was appointed by the king. But because of the opportunity for printers to spread dissension, royalty often sought to limit the number of public printers in the colonies. Thus Bradford apparently held the position for both New York and New Jersey.

Bradford's permanent office was in New York, but in 1723 New Jersey needed to print paper money as well as some laws. Prudence dictated that to avoid fraud, money should be printed under direct supervision, in the issuing colony. To fulfill his obligation as public printer for New Jersey, Bradford is said to have moved a press, presumably by ferry, from New York to Perth Amboy so currency could be printed on New Jersey soil. But other historians, noting that New Jersey currency can be found with both New York and Perth Amboy imprints, argue that Bradford printed only in New York. Regardless of the actual location, historians generally add New Jersey to the list of colonies where Bradford printed first.

Isaac Collins—Originally from Delaware, Isaac Collins established the second permanent print shop in New Jersey. A Quaker, Collins became the Printer to the King for New Jersey in 1770. In 1777, he began publishing the first newspaper in the state, authorized by the New Jersey legislature, The New Jersey Gazette. The newspaper espoused the patriot cause, and Collins was in the curious position of being both Printer to the King and the official printer for the rebellious colonial legislature. Despite his royal appointment, Collins was true to the patriot cause. His active political stance caused him to be tossed out of the Society of Friends, the Quakers being pacifists. In 1791, Collins produced the second edition of the King James Bible to be printed on American soil.

The Excelsior Press—Located near Frenchtown, this private museum and working shop endeavors to preserve the craft of letterpress printing. Founded as a labor of love by printer Alan Runfeldt, Excelsior Press accepts students who wish to learn the letterpress trade. Working presses include antique models made by Chandler and Price, Heidelberg, and Vandercook, as well as the 3x5 inch Kelsey Excelsior press for which the museum is named.

Benjamin Franklin—Although William Bradford is thought to have printed the first currency for New Jersey, Franklin undeniably handled the second printing in 1728. At the time, Franklin was employed by a Philadelphia printing firm headed by Samuel Keimer. Granted the contract to print New Jersey's second issue of paper money, Keimer moved a press from Philadelphia to Burlington for three months. Some historians say that Keimer and his new employee, Ben Franklin, traveled to Burlington to do the work; others say that Keimer sent Franklin and another employee to do the printing. Either way, Franklin is enmeshed in the printing history of New Jersey.