|
|
A REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE
A History of the Perth Printing Industry
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
10
11 12
13
14 15
Perth
Although it is known that one of the first recorded bookbinders
in Perth, Archibald Steedman, was active towards the end of the
sixteenth century, it was over a century later that the first printing
press reached the city. During the rebellion of 1715 the Earl of
Mar had to order types and a press from Aberdeen to print the Jacobite
proclamations and other documents of the Old Pretender.
There is a Minute of the Town Council of Aberdeen, dated 20 October
1715, in the following terms:
The said day the Provost produced an order sub-scribed by the Earl
of Mar, Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty’s forces in Scotland
dated at Perth the 14th day of October inst. directed to the Magistrates
of Aberdeen ordering them to deliver forthwith to Robert Drummond,
servant to Robert Fairbairns (Freebairn), the best printing press,
with such typs, utensills, and other materials as Mr Drummond should
choose and find necessary, and to see them packed up in good order,
and to provide horses and proper carriages for transporting them
to Perth, or where the army shall be at that time; after reading
of which order the Provost held thereof, or the value of the same
and that the thesaurer should advance what money is requisit for
makeing boxes and others for holding the same, and for transporting
all to Perth, which being considered be the counsell they approved
of sending of the said press, typs and utensills thereof to Perth
or where the army shall be, and appoynts the thesaurer to grant
ane oblidgement to the said James Nicoll for returneing the forsaid
press, typs and utensills to him in alse good condition as they
wer receaved, and makeing up any deterioration thereof, or paying
him the value of the same; as also appoynts the thesaurer to pay
what charges shall be debursed for makeing boxes and other carriages
for transporting the said press to Perth or where the army shall
be, and for men and horss hyre, and expenses in carrying the same
there; and the saids expenses to be allowed to the thesaurer in
the first end of the accompts; and the counsell will consider, when
the printing press is returned, what loss the said James Nicoll
sustains throw the want thereof.
The products of the press included not only the Proclamations but
also an account of the Battle of Sheriffmuir. Towards the end of
the year a well-printed pamphlet was published entitled Scotland’s
Lament, Confabulation and Prayer and is a 12 pages quarto. It bears
the colophon: ‘Perth, Printed by Mr Robert Freebairn/For the
Benefite of all-Lovers of God and their Country, 1715’.
The Council was to consider possible loss sustained by James Nicoll
‘when the printing press is returned’ but it is questionable
if it was ever returned. It is known that the press was certainly
sent to Perth, for in a later Minute the Aberdeen treasurer was
authorised to obtain money to pay the expenses of the conveyance.
It is very likely that James Nicoll saw the last of his press, types
and other utensils when he watched them being packed into their
boxes. This probability is based on the fact that, within a month,
the Battle of Sheriffmuir was fought, and during the immediate period
which followed the situation became very confused.
Mr James Young, a foreman for a time at the Courier office, used
to tell of an old-fashioned press which lay in a corner of the Courier
office for many years. It was said by some that this was the press
which printed the Jacobite Proclamations.
|
|
Volume 3 published 1996
Buy a
copy of the illustrated book?
Download a PDF (8MB)
|
