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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.
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Volume 1, published 1990
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