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Printing Collection

"From Gutenberg's Press to Modern Printing: A Journey Through Time" Step back in time to the 1450s

Background imagePrinting Collection: Gutenbergs printing press, 1450s

Gutenbergs printing press, 1450s
Gutenberg and Fust with the first printing press, Germany, 1450s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imagePrinting Collection: Daily Telegraph - printing room 1900

Daily Telegraph - printing room 1900
Daily Telegraph, printing room in Fleet Street, London. Date: 1900

Background imagePrinting Collection: LUTHER: THESES, 1517. The 95 theses which German religious reformer Martin Luther

LUTHER: THESES, 1517. The 95 theses which German religious reformer Martin Luther nailed to the church door at Wittenberg, Germany, on 31 October 1517

Background imagePrinting Collection: Colours derived from coal tar (colour litho)

Colours derived from coal tar (colour litho)
7185313 Colours derived from coal tar (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The range of wonderful colours derived from coal tar)

Background imagePrinting Collection: Cylinder printing press, 1800s

Cylinder printing press, 1800s
Hoe printing press, showing type locked on the bed and overlays fixed on the cylinder; ink rollers on far right, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Background imagePrinting Collection: Printing press used by Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), U. S. statesman and scientist

Printing press used by Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), U. S. statesman and scientist. Colored engraving

Background imagePrinting Collection: Typesetting by hand, Morning Post newspaper, London

Typesetting by hand, Morning Post newspaper, London
A roomful of male compositors in London, typesetting the pages of the Morning Post newspaper by hand

Background imagePrinting Collection: Typesetter at work

Typesetter at work
A compositor at a the Lund Humphries print works places a small type glyph on a forme rack, finishing a page of imposing surface text prior to inking and printing. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

Background imagePrinting Collection: Gutenbergs printing press

Gutenbergs printing press
Gutenberg inspects the first sheet of his Bible, which has just come off the press

Background imagePrinting Collection: Gutenbergs press, with books

Gutenbergs press, with books
Gutenbergs press, reconstructed from what was left of it, and housed in the Deutsche Buchgewerbehaus at Leipzig, Germany

Background imagePrinting Collection: Printing equipment at a German printer s

Printing equipment at a German printer s
A flat-bed press and other printing equipment in a German printers workshop (Buchdruckerwerkstatte)

Background imagePrinting Collection: A Peacock by Mori Tessan

A Peacock by Mori Tessan (Tetsuzan) (1775-1841). Date: circa 1810s

Background imagePrinting Collection: Palisade Avenue, Englewood, New Jersey, USA

Palisade Avenue, Englewood, New Jersey, USA. Date: circa 1930

Background imagePrinting Collection: Gutenberg Bible page

Gutenberg Bible page
Page of the Gutenburg Bible. Color lithograph reproduction of the document

Background imagePrinting Collection: Compositor at Works

Compositor at Works
An American compositor at work in the days of manual type setting. Date: 1887

Background imagePrinting Collection: Shops at Caledonian Road, North London

Shops at Caledonian Road, North London. Date: circa 1905

Background imagePrinting Collection: BUSN2P-00001

BUSN2P-00001
Book and magazine printing press at Harper & Bros. New York City, early 1900s. Printed halftone of a photograph

Background imagePrinting Collection: Johannes Gutenberg, German goldsmith and printer

Johannes Gutenberg, German goldsmith and printer
Johannes Gutenberg (Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg), German goldsmith and printer. He invented mechanical movable type and thereby began a revolution in book printing

Background imagePrinting Collection: Music Hall, Leominster, Massachusetts, USA

Music Hall, Leominster, Massachusetts, USA
Music Hall in Leominster, Massachusetts, USA, with shops on the ground floor. Date: circa 1911

Background imagePrinting Collection: Brochure cover, chocolate box designs

Brochure cover, chocolate box designs
Brochure cover in blue, black and gold, chocolate box designs, Statue Series of box tops, Geo. H. Harrison & Sons, Statue Printing Works, Leeds, and Sentinel House, Southampton Row, London. Date: 1930

Background imagePrinting Collection: Sheet of paper peeling away from a printing forme imprinted with the letters ABC

Sheet of paper peeling away from a printing forme imprinted with the letters ABC and image of a flower

Background imagePrinting Collection: Scenery near Lamlash, Isle of Arran, Scotland

Scenery near Lamlash, Isle of Arran, Scotland - Painted by artist Alexander Cameron for the Sevenoaks based publishing and printing company J. Salmon - Painted 1939 Date: 1939

Background imagePrinting Collection: Cir Mohr from Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran, Scotland

Cir Mohr from Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran, Scotland - Painted by artist Alexander Cameron for the Sevenoaks based publishing and printing company J. Salmon - Painted 1939 Date: 1939

Background imagePrinting Collection: Unloading coal at Lamlash Old Pier, Isle of Arran, Scotland

Unloading coal at Lamlash Old Pier, Isle of Arran, Scotland - Painted by artist Alexander Cameron for the Sevenoaks based publishing and printing company J. Salmon - Painted 1945 Date: 1945

Background imagePrinting Collection: Advertisement for Mander Brothers letterpress inks (colour litho)

Advertisement for Mander Brothers letterpress inks (colour litho)
7200706 Advertisement for Mander Brothers letterpress inks (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for Mander Brothers letterpress inks)

Background imagePrinting Collection: Member certificate of the London Society of Compositors (colour litho)

Member certificate of the London Society of Compositors (colour litho)
BAL5875 Member certificate of the London Society of Compositors (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Trades Union Congress, London, UK; English, out of copyright

Background imagePrinting Collection: Production of the Daily Mirror newspaper, Geraldine House, Fetter Lane, London

Production of the Daily Mirror newspaper, Geraldine House, Fetter Lane, London. Pictured, plate setting. 19th November 1952

Background imagePrinting Collection: Norprint Centre in national Backing Britain Campaign

Norprint Centre in national Backing Britain Campaign East Anglian Printing firm made headlines by printing 100, 000 free labels to support the cause. January 1968 Y146-2

Background imagePrinting Collection: Specimens of type, Leadenhall Press, London

Specimens of type, Leadenhall Press, London
Specimens of type from The Leadenhall Press, Ltd, 50 Leadenhall Street, London EC. circa 1900

Background imagePrinting Collection: A Telewriter

A Telewriter
A telewriter at Dollis Hill telephone exchange, London. Date: early 1930s

Background imagePrinting Collection: Nancy Cunard on cover of The Sketch

Nancy Cunard on cover of The Sketch
Front cover of The Sketch featuring a photograph by Cecil Beaton of Miss Nancy Cunard (1896 - 1965), heiress, poet and political activist, owner of the Hours Printing Press

Background imagePrinting Collection: Advert / Mander Bros Inks

Advert / Mander Bros Inks
Mander Brothers Printing Ink Makers - an advertisement featuring Queen Victoria in the year of her Diamond Jubilee

Background imagePrinting Collection: Beethoven / Printing Art

Beethoven / Printing Art
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN German composer

Background imagePrinting Collection: Advertisement for the linotype composing machine, Linotype Company Limited (colour litho)

Advertisement for the linotype composing machine, Linotype Company Limited (colour litho)
7200689 Advertisement for the linotype composing machine, Linotype Company Limited (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Background imagePrinting Collection: The Bridge at Courbevoie par Gogh, Vincent, van (1853-1890), 1887 - Oil on canvas, 32

The Bridge at Courbevoie par Gogh, Vincent, van (1853-1890), 1887 - Oil on canvas, 32
FIA5403711 The Bridge at Courbevoie par Gogh, Vincent, van (1853-1890), 1887 - Oil on canvas, 32, 1x40, 5 - Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam by Gogh, Vincent van (1853-90); Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Background imagePrinting Collection: Warren Street, Glens Falls, New York State, USA

Warren Street, Glens Falls, New York State, USA. Date: circa 1910

Background imagePrinting Collection: COPPER PLATE PRINTER, 1807. A copper plate printer. Wood engraving from The Book of Trades

COPPER PLATE PRINTER, 1807. A copper plate printer. Wood engraving from The Book of Trades, by Whitehall, 1807

Background imagePrinting Collection: Women picking daffodils in Art Deco style

Women picking daffodils in Art Deco style. 1936

Background imagePrinting Collection: John Bramahs banknote printing press

John Bramahs banknote printing press.. John Bramahs banknote printing press for printing sequential serial numbers, 1806. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after an illustration by J

Background imagePrinting Collection: Carle Vernet, French (1758-1836), Lithographic Printing House of F. Delpech, lithograph

Carle Vernet, French (1758-1836), Lithographic Printing House of F. Delpech, lithograph

Background imagePrinting Collection: First issue Then Swanska Argus, 1732

First issue Then Swanska Argus, 1732
XJF3037923 First issue Then SwAÔé¼nska Argus, 1732 by Swedish School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Then SwAÔé¼nska Argus was written entirely by the Swedish poet, Olof von Dalin)

Background imagePrinting Collection: Insurance Policy 1807 -1

Insurance Policy 1807 -1
Part of an insurance policy Date: 1807

Background imagePrinting Collection: Owen Jones Title Page

Owen Jones Title Page
Decorative gothic-style title page, echoing the style of medieval illuminated manuscripts

Background imagePrinting Collection: Copper Plate Peinter

Copper Plate Peinter
The process of transferring portraits, landscapes and other pictures and writing from engravings on copper to paper

Background imagePrinting Collection: Print Photography 1916

Print Photography 1916
Colour Photographers at work

Background imagePrinting Collection: Steam Book Press / 1877

Steam Book Press / 1877
Steam printing press machinery for printing books - reading a page which has just come off the machine

Background imagePrinting Collection: Wallpaper Printing

Wallpaper Printing
Wallpaper manufacture : colour press

Background imagePrinting Collection: A Calico printing machine

A Calico printing machine
5311720 A Calico printing machine; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a Calico printing machine. Dated 19th century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.




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"From Gutenberg's Press to Modern Printing: A Journey Through Time" Step back in time to the 1450s, when Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized the world with his printing press. This invention marked a turning point in history, making books more accessible and knowledge easier to disseminate. Fast forward to the 1800s, where the cylinder printing press took center stage. This innovation allowed for faster and more efficient production of newspapers and other printed materials. In the early 1900s, coal tar became a game-changer in the printing industry as it provided vibrant colors for lithographic prints. The Daily Telegraph's bustling printing room was filled with these colorful masterpieces that captivated readers. Meanwhile, across Europe, Martin Luther shook religious institutions with his famous "95 Theses" printed on a press similar to Gutenberg's. These bold statements sparked a reformation movement that forever changed Christianity. Typesetting by hand was an art form practiced diligently at Morning Post newspaper in London. Skilled typesetters meticulously arranged individual letters into words and sentences before they were pressed onto paper. Benjamin Franklin himself utilized a printing press during his lifetime as he pursued both political and scientific endeavors. His contributions extended beyond statesmanship; they also encompassed advancements in communication technology. Imagine standing amidst towering shelves filled with books produced by Gutenberg's revolutionary press - truly awe-inspiring. These volumes represent centuries of knowledge preserved through print. Traveling further north brings us to Glen Rosa on Scotland's Isle of Arran, where Cir Mohr stands majestically against picturesque landscapes. Even here, one can find evidence equipment used by German printers who settled there long ago. Printing has come a long way since its humble beginnings but remains an integral part of our lives today. Whether it be newspapers or novels, brochures or business cards - each piece is crafted using techniques developed over centuries.