In France's Imprimerie Nationale, traditional printing techniques are marvels of art, engraved stamps, lithography and typography techniques produce sumptuous books: four centuries of official, royal, and republican documents form a unique and prestigious heritage. But technological developments and competition threaten the activity of the oldest French institution. The film accompanies the last moments of this place of excellence for the art of printing where generations of "monkeys" (typographers) and "bears" (printers) follow on one after the other.