The Bodleian Bibliographical Press

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

People using a hand-operated, cast iron printing press
The letterpress workshop in the Old Bodleian Library

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

Map showing the location of the Bibliographical Press in the Old Bodleian Library quadrangle
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

Paul Nash, Catalogue of the Collection of Wood-Type Donated to The Bibliography Room, Bodleian Library, by Stephen Austin and Sons, 2013 (compiled in 2021)

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)