Welcome to creative book arts in the library
The Bodleian Bibliographical Press is a living workshop for teaching and experiment inside the Bodleian Library. The workshop offers sessions in learning through making books, using technology from the 15th to the 21st centuries. Sessions take place in the Weston Library for Special Collections and in the letterpress workshop, located in the Old Bodleian Library. To visit, e-mail bookcentre@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

EVENTS COMING UP
Bodleian Bibliographical Press at the Fine Press Book Fair, Oxford
Drop-in printing for FPBA exhibitors and visitors, bring your FPBA catalogue
11 am to 2 pm on Saturday 9 December
2 pm to 4 pm on Sunday 10 December
Next Letterpress course starts January
Make a Book course starts January
Saturday 24 February 2024
Save the date: Zine fair
Download a map showing the location of the Bibliographical Press
How to participate
Arrange a bespoke session for a course or group, or see the scheduled workshops and courses listed on the Bodleian Events pages.
For everyone:
Courses open to the public
For universities:
To arrange a demonstration or workshop session, usually for up to 12 students, write to: bookcentre@bodleian.ox.ac.uk. Costs may apply. Workshop sessions for a course or class can be booked during any of the opening hours of the Old Bodleian Library
Monday – Friday: 9am – 9pm
Saturday: 10am – 4pm
Sunday: 11am – 5pm
For schools:
Arrange a workshop session through Bodleian Education: education@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Equipment at the Bodleian Bibliographical Press
Metal type
List of type holdings at the Bodleian Bibliographical Press, prepared July 2023
Wood type
Machines
- The ‘Dürer’ Press, a full-size working replica wooden press made by Alan May
- Large John & Jeremiah Barrett Albion Press of 1835, serial number 539. Platen 17¾” x 24”. This was the press used by C.H.O. Daniel, Provost of Worcester College, from 1880-1906 and presented to the library in 1919.
- Medium Miller & Richard Albion Press of 1898, serial number 4993. Platen 12” x 18”. From the Moss Press
- A Columbian, from the Samson Press (c. 1860)
- Medium Harrild & Sons Albion Press of 1877, serial number 3531. Platen 11” x 16”. From Leonard Baskin’s Gehenna Press
- Small table-top Frederick Ullmer Albion Press of circa 1900, serial number 2919. Platen, 9 ⅞ x 7 in.
- A star-wheel etching press
- A ‘Western’ model proofing press, formerly belonging to Vivian Ridler, Printer to the University, by kind permission of the Story Museum.
- A Risograph (stencil duplicator)
- A Chinese typewriter (Double Pigeon brand)
- A Western typewriter (Remington)