Originally from San Francisco, Jane Bissell Grabhorn (nee Martha Jane Bissell) spent much of her early life in France, where she received training in bookbinding. Returning to her native city, she married Robert Grabhorn, at whose Grabhorn Press she worked from 1934. In 1938 she founded the Colt Press in collaboration with William Roth and Jane Swinerton. The Press ceased independent operations until 1942, when Roth joined the Office of War Information, but Colt Press imprints continued to be issued by the Grabhorn Press. Bissell also operated the Jumbo Press.

Special Collections has the following items printed at or published by the Colt Press:

• Poe, Edgar Allan. The Journal of Julius Rodman. San Francisco: 1947. 818 P75jo
• Stanford, Donald. New England Earth, and Other Poems. San Francisco: 1941. 818 St193ne
• Walker, Franklin. Ambrose Bierce: The Wickedest Man in San Francisco. San Francisco: 1941. PS1097.Z5 W3