Jim Camp

the synaesthesia press
publisher : printer : bookseller

Post Office Box 1527 : HIGLEY, AZ : 85236-1527

I’m Jim Camp. I’m a letterpress printer; I publish work by authors I find interesting; I make pictures with a variety of cameras; I make collages and artists’ books; and, finally, I’m a bookseller specializing in collectible first editions, leftist / commie / pinko titles, paperback sleaze, erotica, and other books you probably wouldn’t want to show your parents.

I co-founded synaesthesia with Steve Fisher in 1991. Steve actually named the press. We were on the phone at 4am or so (Steve’s normal hours to call his friends). Steve suggested me we should start a small publication house. “We should call it the synaesthesia press! We can publish some of my stuff!” I immediately agreed. After we hung up, I ran to the dictionary to look up “synaesthesia”.

As a letterpress printer and a publisher, the synaesthesia press makes whatever it is I like and have time to manage. I challenge myself to make interesting pictures. As a bookseller, I generally specialize in good used books of a subversive nature.

In other words, anything by or about Beatniks, Commies, Pinkos, and Reds. I’ve always felt most artists are subversive by nature and love all things smutty. I like art books and Artists’ Books; any smut and sleaze published before, say, 1970; outlaw poetry and prose; photozines and anything you’d be embarrassed to show your mom.

I’ve been collecting for 35 years (give or take), and most of what I’m going to start offering here I’ve held for at least a couple of decades. Some longer. A few since I began collecting. It’s time these titles found a new home. The proceeds from my book sales here fund the synaesthesia press publications.

You can stalk me on Twitter, if you’re so inclined. The press has a Facebook page, too. If you’re wondering if I’m legit — or your preferred shopping platform is eBay — here’s the synaesthesia press eBay seller’s page with my feedback.

Feel free to send me something…anything, because getting mail is the highlight of my day! If you’re looking to get your work published, send a query/SASE to my post office box. I’ll reply ASAP!

Thanks!

Below is a video Eric Minh Swenson made after a visit in my Los Angeles studio. I left LA in the fall of 2024 for glorious Higley Arizona!