Definition of the Private Press:

"In Private Presses (2nd ed. 1983) Cave … suggests that a private press is an unofficial press that runs not for profit, but to produce works of some aesthetic merit for a restricted audience. … the same press prints the material as publishes it, had until the 1980s little relevance in New Zealand, where most publishers had their own printing arm. Enthusiasm for printing is clearly a prerequisite and most presses are informed by a strong craft ethic. The anachronism that is the hand press has also increasingly come to be associated with the reprinting of rare or obscure texts… In Vinculum 8 Parr offers the following definition of 'Private Printing in New Zealand': 'There is a PRIVATE PRESS when the operator runs it:—for his own enjoyment, being in full control of every choice, with persistent effort to improve techniques, without seeking financial gain (although he may sell some items to help cover costs)'. "

Sourced from: Waite Noel BOOK & PRINT IN NEW ZEALAND : A GUIDE TO PRINT CULTURE IN AOTEAROA, Private Printing
http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-GriBook-_div2-N11366.html#name-200195- 29/11/09