Messrs, Anstey and Webb founded Anstey Book Binding in 1882. Located in Toronto’s business district, the firm employed over 20 people and supplied general finishing and trade bindery services for many of the city’s downtown printers. The company survived the Great Fire of 1904, which devastated the city by destroying over one hundred buildings and putting more than five thousand people out of work.

During the 20th century, Anstey continued to prosper, developing its own line of stationery products and producing many beautiful, unique art books with such notable artists as Bernard Loates, A.J. Casson, Lorraine Monk and Christine Marshall. More recently, Anstey has collaborated with printers to produce limited edition books and portfolios for artists such as Ed Ruscha, Jasper Johns, Rachel Whiteread, Edward Burtynsky, James Lahey, Claes Oldenburg and many others.