Do you enjoy the look, feel and smell of the handmade book, whose design combines vitality with sensitivity of interpretation? Are you fascinated by the crisp impression of type lovingly set and printed, illustrations printed fresh from the artist's block or plate, paper of rare colour and texture? Membership of the Oxford Guild of Printers will bring you into closer contact with such work and its originators for as little as £15 per annum - surely justified, even if you can attend only two or three meetings.
The Guild has existed for over twenty-five years, and membership includes some of Britain's leading Fine Press printers, a wide range of design, printing and publishing professionals - from students to the retired - and a growing number of Fine Press collectors and dealers. They come from as far afield as north of the Tay and west of the Atlantic. Nine of the eleven monthly meetings (there is a summer break) feature a speaker of some distinction on a printing- or book-related topic or take the form of a visit to a noted library, Press or museum. There is generally time for a stimulating interchange of news and ideas between members before the talk - and afterwards an opportunity to meet the speaker.
One meeting a year is usually devoted to discussing samples of printing - good or bad - sometimes members' work, sometimes not. An occasional 'print-in' held at one of the more spacious member-Presses enables non-printers to enjoy hands-on experience in a convivial atmosphere - and perhaps arrange further tuition.
Members receive a monthly newsletter, which keeps them informed of forthcoming talks or visits, relevant exhibitions and events, and other bookish news, and also lists equipment and materials for sale or wanted. A collectable invitation card for the forthcoming talk, printed by a member, generally comes with each newsletter.
Past speakers have included James Brockman, Lida Lopes Cardozo, Sebastian Carter, John Dreyfus, Lotte Hellinga, Ron King, Simon Lawrence, Ian Mortimer, John Randle, Theo Rehak, Michael Twyman, Lawrence Wallis and Hugh Williamson. Visits have been made to several Fine Presses, type foundries, collections of historic and rare books, letter-cutting studios, etc.
For those who print or aspire to print, on whatever scale, occasional Guild exhibitions of members' work are held, featuring small ephemera as well as books, prints and posters. The Guild holds a biennial Wayzgoose where books and equipment can be sold or exchanged over coffee and cakes. It has published boxed collections of small books and pamphlets, such as the Millennium Project in Spring 2000 in which several non-printing members collaborated with Press-owners, and the Silver Jubilee Compendium in Winter 2007 in which members celebrated twenty-five years of activity. In addition, the Guild supports an annual prize for a student at Reading University's Department of Typography.
Programme of Events
Meetings are generally held on the first Monday of the month, at the Bell in Charlbury, and start at (7.30 for) 8pm. There is no meeting in August.
| Committee | |
|---|---|
| Chairman: | Miles Wigfield |
| Vice Chairmen: | Colin Cohen and Richard Lawrence |
| Treasurer/ Membership Secretary: | Michael Daniell |
| Newsletter: | Jean-Claude Peissel and Paul Nash |
| Events Secretary | Louisa Hare |