| COMMEMORATIVE PORTFOLIO GOES ON SALE |
On 4 April this year, 500 years to the day since it was first printed, Scott Hudson, Paul Liam Harrison and Andy Rice commemorated the printing of John Lydgate's Complaint of the Black Knight by holding a public day of printing at the Visual Research Centre at Dundee Contemporary Arts. You can now buy a portfolio, in a specially designed cover, of prints produced at that event. |
| NAPIER PUBLISHING STUDENTS LAUNCH BOOK FOR SCHOOLS |
| This year, Napier University is celebrating 40 years as a centre of excellence in publishing education. Students on a third-year module have published a new version of Edinburgh-born Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles, featuring the master-detective, Sherlock Holmes. Not only was the group responsible for the layout and typography, they commissioned a professional artist to produce the internal illustrations and cover artwork, which they then designed. The Edward Clark Bequest sponsored the project as part of the 500 Years of Printing in Scotland celebrations, the Edinburgh-based illustrator Cate James contributed her illustrations, and Bell and Bain Ltd of Glasgow did the printing. The book, published by Merchiston Publishing, has already had a fantastic response and 500 copies will be distributed to schools and libraries across Scotland. Alistair McCleery, Director of the Scottish Centre for the Book said: 'We are sure that Edward Clark, Chairman and MD of R & R Clark of Edinburgh (a major printer of its day), would be delighted to see his legacy used to support such a Scottish-centred, educational and innovative publishing project.' All enquiries to: Derek Allan, Programme Leader BA (Hons) Publishing. de.allan@napier.ac.uk www.napier.ac.uk/scob |
| 500 YEARS OF THE SCOTTISH BOOK TRADE |
Dr Alastair Mann of Stirling University is talking to the Galley Club in London on Thursday 13 November about 500 years of the Scottish Book Trade. For more details of the event see www.galleyclub.co.uk/html/events_for_2008_-09.html |
| EDINBURGH'S FESTIVAL OF LIBRARIES |
![]() This year's Edinburgh Library Fair is the first event in the week-long Festival of Libraries, and this year it takes place in Adam House in Chambers Street. Guided walks based on one of the walks in the new Edinburgh Printing Trail leaflet will depart from Adam House at 10.30 and 2pm. Places are limited: to book email hwilliams@500yearsofprinting.org Exhibitions celebrating Edinburgh's history as a printing centre also form part of the programme and there are opportunities to learn more about the history of the Edward Clark Collection of works on the history and development of printing and typography, in talks given by Marian Kirton at 5.30pm on Tuesday 11 November and Thursday 13 November. There are screenings of the Hollywood Librarian, organised by the Scottish Centre for the Book at Napier University: for more details see the SCOB website. On Friday 14 November at 7pm, a panel debate on the future of the book will take place at the Scottish Book Trust in Sandeman's Close off the High Street. To book a place, email events@nls.uk For details of the week's events see the Festival website. |
| MORE RECOMMENDATIONS |
| The Scotsman has now published another 5 recommendations of best places for printing in its 'Scotsman recommends' series. living.scotsman.com/recommends/Best-for-printing-.4614960.jp |
| CELEBRATING SCOTLAND'S POPULAR PRESS |
The City of Edinburgh's libraries are celebrating 500 years of printing with a display on the development of printing in Scotland illustrated by examples from the popular press through the ages. From 17 to 25 October there will be a series of free events and workshops Edinburgh's libraries to accompany the exhibition in the Central Library on George IV Bridge. They begin on Friday 17 October with a chance to have a closer look at items featured in the exhibition including the Bassandyne Bible, one of the few remaining copies of the first Bible to be printed in Scotland after the Reformation. For more details of the events click here. |
| EDINBURGH'S PRINTING HISTORY |
| A free leaflet has been produced by the Scottish Printing Archival Trust to mark the 500th anniversary of Edinburgh's (and Scotland's) printing industry. The 'Edinburgh Print Trail' not only gives the reader a brief history of one of the capital's most significant industries, but includes guided walks through the heart of the Old and New Towns. Copies of the leaflet are available through the Trust www.scottishprintarchive.org or from Helen Williams hwilliams@500yearsofprinting.org |
| 500 YEARS OF SCOTTISH MUSIC |
On Wednesday 8 October at 8pm, Rudsambee Company of Singers, based in Edinburgh, perform Scottish music from the last 500 years including original versions and arrangements from the National Library of Scotland's remarkable music collections, from medieval composer Robert Carver to the modern settings of Burns and Gaelic songs. www.nls.uk/events/index.html |
| CELEBRATION OF LETTERPRESS |
| St Bride's Printing Library are holding a one day conference on Friday 7 November to review and discuss the phenomenon of letterpress in the 21st century. Among the speakers will be Harry McIntosh of the Chepman and Myllar Press in Edinburgh. For full details see stbride.org/public/events/letterpress |
| OPEN DOOR AT ANNANDALE OBSERVER |
| Under the auspices of Solway Heritage, DNG Media opened their historic offices to invited guests. See the video on the Annandale Observer website, including footage of the press in action www.annandaleobserver.co.uk/story.php?pheader=1&id=828 |
| INKY PRINTS AT ST RONAN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL |
Earlier this year, Primary 7 children from St Ronan's Primary School in Innerleithen in the Borders took part in a printing workshop organised by Robert Smail's Printing Works. They designed a range of goods, including mousemats, photo albums, keyrings, fridge magnets and bags for life, which they sold in aid of various charities. There is also a limited edition mug celebrating the quincentenary available from Smail's Printing Works in Innerleithen and from the Lasting Impressions exhibition in Charlotte Square in Edinburgh. |
| DOORS OPEN DAYS |
This month associated with printing that may not normally be open to the public can be visited during Doors Open Days. Highlights include: on 13 Spetember, Carronglen House at Carronglen Papermill, Denny and the HarperCollins Archive in East Dunbartonshire; on the weekend of 20-21 September, Innerpeffray Library near Crieff, the Glasgow Print Studio and Dundee Contemporary Arts, where the edition of the Complaint of the Black Knight printed on 4 April this year will be on display; on 27 September in Edinburgh, there will be behind the scenes tours at the National Library of Scotland, a special exhibition arranged by the Advocates Library in Parliament Sqaure, an open day at Edinburgh Printmakers and the annual poetry fair at the Scottish Poetry Library. In association with Doors Open Days, the Scotsman has listed 5 of the best places for printing. news.scotsman.com/recommends/Best-for-printing.4428535.jp and the BBC has covered the opening of the HarperCollins Archive to the public news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7612403.stm |
| CHEPMAN'S CONTRIBUTION RECOGNISED |
In recognition of the significance of Walter Chepman's contribution to Scotland's cultural life, the closing ceremony of the 12th Medieval and Rennaissance Scottish Language and Literature Conference 2008 took place in the Chepman Aisle of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.
A wreath was laid below the plaque describing Walter Chepman's work. |
| LASTING IMPRESSIONS AT THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND |
The National Trust for Scotland's exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of printing in Scotland, Lasting Impressions: the National Trust for Scotland and the Printed Word opens on 1 August in the NTS Gallery, 28 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. The exhibition features some of the contents of Robert Smail's Printing Works in Innerleithen alongside printed treasures from the Trust's collections. For more details see www.nts.org.uk/NewsStory/295/ Robert Smail's itself is featured on the BBC website at news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7533017.stm |
| EXHIBITION ON WALTER SCOTT IN EDINBURGH |
| An electric shock of delight: Walter Scott and the Waverley novels, a free exhibition centred on Sir Walter Scott and the Waverley Press opened at Writers' Museum in Edinburgh on 19 July 2008. The exhibition celebrates the completion of the Edinburgh edition of the Waverley novels in 2008. They were a landmark in oublishing history on first publication, and it is fitting that this exhibition also contributes to the celebration of 500 years of printing in Scotland. Writers' Museum, Lady Stair’s Close, Edinburgh, EH1 2PA. Until 3 January 2009. Download further information here. writersmuseum@edinburgh.gov.uk |
Andrew Myllar - Scotland's first printer

