author

John Sawtelle Ford

Best known for a practical 1883 handbook for printers, binders, and stationers, this little-known writer left behind work rooted in everyday craft rather than literary fame. The surviving record is sparse, but his books still offer a window into the working world of nineteenth-century printing.

1 Audiobook

Paper and Printing Recipes

Paper and Printing Recipes

by John Sawtelle Ford

About the author

John Sawtelle Ford was an American author best remembered for Paper and Printing Recipes, first published in 1883. The book was aimed at stationers, printers, binders, and related trades, and it gathered practical formulas and shop knowledge for everyday work.

His published name also appears as J. Sawtelle Ford. Reliable biographical details are limited, but library and genealogical records associated with his work identify him as having lived from 1851 to 1944.

Ford does not seem to have been a widely documented literary figure, and that makes his surviving books especially interesting. Alongside his trade manual, records also point to a later volume titled Twelve Short Poems, suggesting that his writing ranged from hands-on technical guidance to verse.