Today, the National Library of Scotland is marking the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden and celebrating the contribution of James IV to printing in Scotland by displaying the first known books to be printed in this country between 12 and 2pm — no need to book, just turn up and view the books which are only rarely on show. Expert curators will be on hand to explain their unrivalled place in Scotland’s printed heritage.
James IV, who died in the battle, introduced printing to Scotland through the patent he granted to merchant Walter Chepman and bookseller Androw Myllar. The first books they published in 1508 are among the Library’s most precious in the collections.
The Chepman and Myllar prints have been digitised and are freely available to view online at the NLS website.
SPRAT is grateful for support from The Watson Foundation