:For four decades, using presses he operated with his own inky hands, Mr.
Merker was a designer, typesetter and printer of some of the most
beautiful books made in America in the late 20th century. Almost all
were vessels for poems that he found promising, interesting or
indisputably excellent — and about which he was usually right: some of
the young poets he published went on to achieve renown.
Within the artisanal movement called fine press printing, which
celebrates bookmaking as it was practiced before mass production, Mr.
Merker had few peers. "
More: New York Times
