The Scottish Printing Archival Trust was formed in 1988 to conserve ‘knowledge and examples of Scotland’s printing heritage for the benefit of the public and print/media education’.
It promotes interest in the history of the Scottish printing industry, which is one of Scotland’s oldest. The Trust also collects print trade ephemera, and works with institutions across Scotland to ensure that printing archives and artefacts are not lost.
Publications
The Trust’s books on the Scottish printing industry include Mechanical to Digital Printing in Scotland by the late Professor John Gennard, charting the 100 year history of the Scottish print employers’ organisation, published in association with Print Scotland (formerly Graphic Enterprise Scotland).
The Trust has also four books in the Reputation for excellence series of books on local printing industries in Scotland, a Glasgow Print Trail leaflet, and a poster of Rules for the printing shop. The Edinburgh Print Trail is now out of print, but a new edition will be coming soon.
You can buy all our publications through our online shop.
Events & Activities
2018 was the 30th anniversary of the Trust’s foundation. To mark the occasion the Trust arranged an exhibition on the heritage of Scotland’s printing industry in the Glasgow Herald’s former printing works, the Lighthouse.
Other activities, undertaken with the generous sponsorship of the John Watson Foundation, have included guided walks and training workshops on traditional letterpress skills. You can find out more on our Projects page.
For more information about any aspect of the Trust’s work, please contact the Honorary Secretary, use the contact form or follow us on Twitter.
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