A REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE
A History of the Edinburgh Printing Industry
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Beginnings
The history of book printing in Edinburgh begins with the granting of a patent, dated 15 September 1507, to Walter Chepman and Andro Myllar— ‘burgessis of our town of Edinburgh’—by James IV. It was at the specific request of the King that Chepman and Myllar brought the press from France for ‘imprenting within our Realme of the bukis of our Lawis, actis of parliament, chroniclis, mess buiks ánd portuus efter the use of our Realme, with addicions and legendis of Scottis Sanctis’ and they were granted a measure of protection in order to guarantee them recompense for their ‘rycht greit cost, labour and expens’ in the enterprise.
Walter Chepman was a man of property, well known to the King, and probably supplying the capital necessary to start the business as well as the premises in the Southgait (Cowgate) where it was to be based. Myllar, on the other hand, seems to have supplied the technical know-how. Already a bookseller, he had traveled to France to learn the trade at Rouen, only returning to Edinburgh around 1507 with the techniques and technology which were required. Throughout the century Scottish printers were to retain close links with France which were only surrendered under the gradually increasing influence of English and Dutch taste and developments.
Volume 1, published 1990
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