Arion Press

Arion Press
Arion Press is a renowned fine press and publisher based in San Francisco, California, specializing in limited-edition, handcrafted artist books that combine classic literature with original contemporary artwork.

Founded in 1974 by Andrew Hoyem as the successor to the legendary Grabhorn Press, Arion Press is unique as the only facility in the United States that produces books entirely by hand “from comma to cover” under one roof. This includes their own hot-metal type foundry (the last unified one in America), letterpress printing workshop with historic equipment (some dating to the 1910s and even machines used to cast the U.N. Charter in 1945), and complete book bindery.

They collaborate with leading artists to reimagine literary classics, creating museum-quality volumes through traditional craftsmanship while keeping the printed book relevant in the digital age. In 2024, they relocated to a 10,000-square-foot facility at the Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture.

Their publications are highly sought after by collectors, often featuring intricate illustrations, fine typography, and deluxe bindings. Notable examples include their famous 1979 edition of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick (illustrated by Barry Moser), which has become a benchmark in fine press publishing.

Other titles have included works like George Orwell’s Animal Farm (with illustrations by Jonathan Hammer) and various deluxe editions of classics such as Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, and more recent ones like Isaac Asimov’s Nightfall.

The press maintains a gallery and store open to the public (typically Tuesdays through Saturdays, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.), where visitors can view books, prints, and sometimes observe the production process. They offer subscriptions for new releases and sell directly through their online store.

The best places to find Arion Press books online are:
eBay Books
Arion Press

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

The Physiology of Taste, Arion Press, 1994. Wayne Thiebaud illustrations.

$65.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $65.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Moby Dick - Herman Melville Arion Press Barry Moser First Edition, 1st Ptg. 1981

$249.95   Buy It on eBay for only: $249.95 Buy It Now on eBay

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville Arion Press Andrew Joyed Barry Moser

$99.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $99.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Moby-Dick or, The Whale Herman Melville 1981 Arion Press 1st Trade Ed. 1st Print

$149.98   Buy It on eBay for only: $149.98 Buy It Now on eBay

Kaddish Allen Ginsberg 1992 Arion Press Signed Ltd Ed Kitaj Prospectus

$745.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $745.00 Buy It Now on eBay

William Carlos Williams-KORA IN HELL-1998-ARION PRESS-1/300 SIGNED LIMITED-FINE

$518.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $518.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Moby Dick or The Whale by Herman Melville Arion Press Ed 1st Printing 1981 HCDJ

$149.99   Buy It on eBay for only: $149.99 Buy It Now on eBay

A Delicate Balance - Arion Press - Edward Albee - 2011 Limited Signed Numbered

$308.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $308.00 Buy It Now on eBay

American Buffalo David Mamet 1992 Arion Press Signed Ltd Ed McCurdy

$170.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $170.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville 1981 Arion Press First trade Edition/5th Printing

$124.95   Buy It on eBay for only: $124.95 Buy It Now on eBay

Thomas Jefferson's Paris Walks - Arion Press - Signed Numbered Limited 2012

$476.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $476.00 Buy It Now on eBay

What the End is For - Arion Press - 2014 Limited Signed - Jorie Graham - Prints

$400.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $400.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Benjamin Franklin-THE MEMOIRS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN-2006-ARION PRESS LIMITED ED

$550.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $550.00 Buy It Now on eBay

MOBY-DICK by Herman Melville - 1st printing Arion Press HCDJ 1981

$247.50   Buy It on eBay for only: $247.50 Buy It Now on eBay

Pine Lake Pictures - Tante Leni (Helena Mayer Bogner) Arion Press Ltd Ed Book

$85.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $85.00 Buy It Now on eBay

1986 The Hound Of The Baskervilles A. Doyle Photographer Michael Kenna Arion Ed

$425.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $425.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Moby Dick Herman Melville HC Arion Press First Trade Edition 13th Printing

$199.95   Buy It on eBay for only: $199.95 Buy It Now on eBay

Some Call it Sleep Signed by Henry Roth Arion Press 1995 with Slipcase

$345.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $345.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Mrs. Bridge Evan S. Connell Arion Press - 2009 #22/300

$330.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $330.00 Buy It Now on eBay

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins Arion Press - 2012 #9/300

$440.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $440.00 Buy It Now on eBay

RARE Emily Dickinson "Sampler" Arion Press HC Ltd. Numbered Ed. Kiki Smith 2007

$1,199.99   Buy It on eBay for only: $1,199.99 Buy It Now on eBay

3 Arion Press Books Christmas Carol Prospectus, Catalogue 1995-1975 & 1992

$35.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $35.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Arion Press BIRDS OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE Limited Edition 1986, NO PLATES

$500.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $500.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Story of a Story & Three Stories Jessamyn West Arion Press, Friends of Bancroft

$20.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $20.00 Buy It Now on eBay

A Day in the Bleachers - Arion Press - 2006 Limited Signed Numbered - Baseball

$420.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $420.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Mrs. Bridge, Arion Press, Signed & Limited Edition, Evan Connell, Laurie Simmons

$450.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $450.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Williwaw - Arion Press - Signed by Gore Vidal - Limited Numbered #203 of 250

$268.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $268.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Jim Dine - DIARY OF A NON-DEFLECTOR: SELECTED POEMS - 1st paperbound Arion Press

$30.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $30.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Arion Press Catalogue Retrospective Checklist of Publications 1995-1975 / 1st ed

$30.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $30.00 Buy It Now on eBay

The Madonna of the Future - Arion Press - Henry James - Limited Signed Numbered

$380.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $380.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Arion Press - Captivity Hannah Duston - 1987 Richard Bosman Signed Fine Press

$480.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $480.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Moby Dick or, the Whale 1st Ed. Paperback Arion Press B1R1

$125.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $125.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Frank Jim Dine . Arion Press / Arion Press invites you to celebrate 1991 #298298

$12.50   Buy It on eBay for only: $12.50 Buy It Now on eBay

American Buffalo David Mamet Arion Press - 1992

$150.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $150.00 Buy It Now on eBay

ARION PRESS Fine Books 1995 catalogue Price List brochure

$14.99   Buy It on eBay for only: $14.99 Buy It Now on eBay

Vintage 1998 Jack Gannon Canon Addenda Arion Press Hardcover Fine Press Booklet

$35.59   Buy It on eBay for only: $35.59 Buy It Now on eBay

*RARE*_Shaped Poetry_Arion Press_29 of 30 Prints + Book_Good

$324.99   Buy It on eBay for only: $324.99 Buy It Now on eBay

Publishing the Plan of St Gall James H Clark 1983 Arion Press Pamphlet UC Press

$20.50   Buy It on eBay for only: $20.50 Buy It Now on eBay

The Bridge ~ by HART CRANE ~ JOEL SHAPIRO ~ Arion Press ~ Limited Edition ~ 2017

$2,500.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $2,500.00 Buy It Now on eBay

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler, 1986, Arion Press, Signed Limited Edition

$1,150.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $1,150.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Flatland ~ EDWIN ABBOTT ~ ARION PRESS Limited Edition Signed by Ray Bradbury

$3,100.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $3,100.00 Buy It Now on eBay

NIKOLAI REZANOV & CONCEPCION ARGUELLO by Dr. Alberto Shumate 1993 Arion Press

$75.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $75.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Arnold Hano-A DAY IN THE BLEACHERS-2006-ARION PRESS-1/400 SIGNED LIMITED-FINE

$825.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $825.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Herman MELVILLE : Moby-Dick or, The Whale 1981 Arion Press First Trade Edition

$159.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $159.00 Buy It Now on eBay

South of Heaven Jim Thompson Arion Press - 2010 #6/400

$570.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $570.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne. Arion Press, 1988. Limited edition.

$2,200.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $2,200.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Don Quixote ~ by MIGUEL DE CERVANTES ~ The Arion Press Edition ~ 2009

$7,500.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $7,500.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Napa Wine A Chapter from Silverado Squatters Robert Louis Stevenson Arion Press

$44.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $44.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Animal Farm by GEORGE ORWELL ~ Limited Edition ~ The Arion Press ~ FINE PRESS

$2,000.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $2,000.00 Buy It Now on eBay

Publisher's Prospectus Arion Press Announces Captivity Narrative of Hannah 1st

$45.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $45.00 Buy It Now on eBay