A replica of the printing press that launched the first media revolution half a millennium ago will be unveiled for the first time on Wednesday 12 November at the St Bride Foundation in London.
This hand-built press, based on an etching by Albrecht Durer, is a refined version of the press believed used by Johann Gutenberg to print his famous Bible. A forerunner appeared previously in the BBC documentary ‘The Machine that Made Us’.
The new press, intended as a tool for research into early printing technology, was constructed by woodworker and printing historian Alan May and is owned by the Durer Press Group and has been loaned to the St Bride Foundation for five years.
The arrival of this press at St Bride Foundation also coincides with the 50th anniversary conference of the Printing Historical Society, entitled ‘Landmarks in Printing: from origins to the digital age’.
The launch of the press will be held at St Bride Foundation in the Printing Workshop on 12 November at 6pm.