Marks, Saul, 1905-1974

Biographical/Historical Note

The Plantin Press, a small private press in Los Angeles and considered one of North America's finest, was started in 1931 by Saul and Lillian Marks. Saul Marks, having learned the printing trade while a youth in Poland during the First World War, emigrated to the United States in 1921. Here he met and married Lillian Simon in 1928. With the coming of the Depression, the Marks moved to Los Angeles in 1930 and there set up shop. Saul and Lillian Marks purposely kept the Plantin Press a small operation so that each book or project could receive personal attention. Saul Marks died on November 27, 1974, leaving Lillian Marks to continue the press. This she did until the decision was made in 1985 to sell the business.

The work of Saul and Lillian Marks earned high praise on this continent and abroad for its uniformly high quality with appropriate and notable presswork. The Plantin Press printed approximately one hundred fifty-five books, pamphlets, keepsakes, etc. not including numerous programs, announcements, invitations, and stationery sets. The books of the Plantin Press were consistently awarded recognition in the printing world for their fine workmanship.