The Bodleian Bibliographical Press is a living letterpress 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.

Find listings for events and public printing courses.

What happens here

Report of the last year .

Printers in Residence

Since 2016 the Bodleian Libraries have invited expert printers to share their ideas and working practices. Below are recordings of the lectures they gave during their visits:

Russell Maret, Making third-stream books in a post-digital age

Emily Martin, Visual metre and rhythm: the function of movable devices in books

David Armes, Accumulating narrative: meaning and mutation in letterpress printing

Thomas Gravemaker, Making wood type then and now

Tia Blassingame, We rise together: Taking and making space for BIPOC book arts creatives, cultures and histories

How to participate

Arrange a bespoke printing session for a course or group, drop in during open sessions in the Weston Library, or register for scheduled workshops and courses listed on the Bodleian Events pages.

For everyone

• Drop-in printing at the Broad Street Press, located in Blackwell Hall, the main foyer of the Weston Library. See the schedule posted there for public drop-in printing at weekends and special events.
• Open workshop days. Next dates:
  Drop-in for Oxfordshire ArtWeeks in May
  Drop-in for Oxford Open Doors in September
• Courses open to the public: see listings to register

For university courses, Societies and summer schools

To arrange a demonstration or workshop session, email: csb[at]bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
Costs may apply. Group workshop sessions 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 printing session through Bodleian Education: education@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Download a map showing the location of the Bibliographical Press

The team:

Alexandra Franklin is director of the Bibliographical Press on behalf of the Bodleian Department of Special Collections.

Richard Lawrence is the master printer and Superintendent of the Bibliographical Press.

GLAM volunteers run the popular drop-in keepsake printing in the Weston Library, under the supervision of the Bodleian’s Public Engagement Team

To visit, e-mail csb[at]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)