Events

Last Words: The Boston Book Launch (and a Design Brief Wake)

January 28, 2025

We’ll introduce Last Words: Gravestones of Type Designers to Greater Boston and the greater world as author Gavin Morrison will be present for a book launch party without further formalities and a wake to observe this final issue of our Design Brief.

Learn more »

Type Specimen Super Sale

Coming soon

Printed type specimens are useful things—especially when they’re old. We’re getting ready to offer lots of them for not a lot. As usual, there’ll also be some rare specimens peppered throughout the shop. Stay tuned. Learn more »

Past Events

Meet the Kenji

December 21, 2024

Come meet Kenji Nakayama of Need Signs? Will Paint! as he’ll be here with a fresh batch of beautiful practice sheets and handsome tote bags. Learn more »

December! Pop-up! Fair! With Kelli Anderson!

December 14, 2024

Who doesn’t love a fair in December? End everyone loves a pop-up. And what about Kelli Anderson? We’ll have all three when Kelli comes up from New York with a trainload of books and cheer. Learn more »

Meet the Owner

December 8, 2024

Have you ever wondered who’s responsible for everything that goes on at Katherine Small Gallery? That person is The Owner. Come in and say hello as The Owner comes in to answer questions and show of rarities from The Back. Learn more »

“Graphics and New Technology,” 1981 (2025)

December 5, 2024

David Reinfurt and Robert Wiesenberger delivered our thirty-fourth Standing-Room Only Lecture. Their topic and title could not have been better: “‘Graphics and New Technology’ 1981 (2025).” Learn more »

Boston Bookstores: A Free Map Giveaway

November 16, 2024

Boston-based graphic designer Livia Lemgruber produced a map of independent bookstores in Boston + Cambridge + Somerville. We invited Livia to give out copies for free. Learn more »

Modern Pioneers in Typography and Design: Inge Druckrey in Conversation with Tobias Frere‑Jones

November 10, 2024

Our thirty-third Standing-Room Only Lecture had chairs—and Tobias Frere-Jones interviewing Inge Druckrey about her new book, Modern Pioneers in Typography and Design. Learn more »

HERE: Where the Black Designers Are. An Evening with Cheryl D. Holmes-Miller

November 8, 2024

Cheryl D. Holmes-Miller delivered our thirty-second Standing-Room Only Lecture. Her topic and title could not have been better: “HERE: Where the Black Designers Are.” Learn more »

Barry Moser’s Wood Engraving: The Boston Book Launch

October 27, 2024

We reintroduced Barry Moser’s Wood Engraving to Greater Boston and the greater world as both Barry and a selection of his books and prints were present for a book launch party without further formalities. Learn more »

Yard Sale 2024

October 6, 2024

Sometimes it’s time to let things go. That time was Sunday, October 6, when we put out for cheap all sorts of good and kinda-good stuff for a yard sale. Learn more »

Deepcuts: 36 Small Things You Didn’t Know about Helena Bochoráková-Dittrichová

September 19, 2024

Kelly Rene Bullard delivered our thirty-first Standing-Room Only Lecture. Her topic and title could not have been better: “Deepcuts: 36 Small Things You Didn’t Know about Helena Bochořáková-Dittrichová.” Learn more »

Typographics Book Fair 2024

June 14–16, 2024

We’ll leave on a midnight train to NYC so we can exhibit at the Typographics book fair at Cooper Union on June 14 and 15 and 16. Packed your bags and meet us there. Learn more »

With My Little Eye: Warnings for the Homefront

April 17, 2024

Tim Medland delivered our thirtieth Standing-Room Only Lecture. His topic and title could not have been better: “With My Little Eye: Warnings for the Homefront.” Learn more »

Schoolgirls at War: French Propaganda Posters from World War I

April 16, 2024

Angelina Lippert delivered our twenty-ninth Standing-Room Only Lecture. Her topic and title could not have been better: “Schoolgirls at War: French Propaganda Posters from World War I.” Learn more »

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Party

April 7, 2024

Celebrate envelopes and the people who address them and a show about envelopes addressed and mailed by type designers and notable graphic designers. Learn more »

Seven Exceedingly Short Talks in New York City

March 27, 2024

Calling all New Yorkers! Our Visiting Curator, spoke at a Typophiles Luncheon in your fair city. His topic and title could not have been better: “Seven Exceedingly Short Talks.” Learn more »

Norman Ives at 101 + 1 Day: A Giveaway

March 24, 2024

On March 23, Norman Ives would have turned 101-years-old. On March 24, we celebrated this important designer, printer, and artist by giving away copies of Norman Ives: Constructions & Reconstructions. Learn more »

Looking Good on Paper: American Women and Soviet Print Culture in the 1930s

March 21, 2024

Morgan Forde delivered our twenty-eighth Standing-Room Only Lecture. Her topic and title could not have been better: “Looking Good on Paper: American Women and Soviet Print Culture in the 1930s.” Learn more »

Strikethrough: Typographic Messages of Protest

March 7, 2024

Silas Munro will delivered our twenty-seventh Standing-Room Only Lecture. His topic and title could not have been better: “Strikethrough: Typographic Messages of Protest.” Learn more »

Letters from Outside the Bubble

January 25, 2024

Nina Stössinger delivered our twenty-sixth Standing-Room Only Lecture. Her topic and title could not have been better: “Letters from Outside the Bubble.” Learn more »

Hi-Rise Holiday Bazaar 2023

December 3, 2023

We walked up to Observatory Hill in Cambridge with a box of books and a face full of cheer to participate in the Hi-Rise Bread Company Holiday Bazaar. Learn more »

Boston Art Book Fair 2023

November 10–12, 2023

We crossed the river for the Boston Art Book Fair. Presented by the Boston Center for the Arts and Bodega, the fair was a great place to pick up affordable books by artists and designers from all over the country. Learn more »

Paul Rand: A Designer’s Eye. The Boston Book Launch

November 2, 2023

We introduced Paul Rand: A Designer’s Eye to Greater Boston and the greater world as both editor JP Williams and a selection of Rand designs were present for a book launch party without further formalities. Learn more »