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ISO: Tips for European Printing Sites Tour

I am considering a trip through Europe following the history of printing. My rough itinerary starts in Mainz, continues to Venice, then Amsterdam, and finally London and Oxford. As I say, this is a rough itinerary. If someone from APHA can suggest more specific places, libraries, bookstores, or museums of printing interest, please let me know or point me to the appropriate publication.

Thank you,
Matt Cadorette

Comments

Comments

  1. Alaric Garnier 29 October, 2016 at 4:47 pm

    printing museum in lyon

    Reply
  2. Paul Moxon, Website Editor 29 October, 2016 at 5:20 pm

    Start here: Association of European printing Museums http://www.aepm.eu/

    Reply
  3. Matt Cadorette 29 October, 2016 at 6:22 pm

    Thank you. These two sources alone are worth the price of admission.

    Reply
  4. Henk Gianotten 29 October, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    In my opinion the city of Antwerpen and the city of Turnhout in Belgium have a unique collection of old presses and type.

    Reply
  5. Harold Kyle 29 October, 2016 at 11:00 pm

    Basler Papiermühle: http://www.papiermuseum.ch/en/the-museum/

    Reply
  6. Peter Rukavina 31 October, 2016 at 9:02 am

    Here’s my own list of European favourites:

    * The Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, which I’m sure you’ll take in. I recommend arranging in advance, if possible, to print in their workshop, which has a fantastic collection of type (http://ruk.ca/content/printing-gutenberg-mainz)

    * Basler Papiermühle in Basel is a wonderful museum that includes everything from paper making to printing; it’s perhaps the best “full process” museum I’ve visited (http://ruk.ca/content/basler-papiermuhle). The highlight is the Gutenberg-style type casting demonstration.

    * Tipoteca Italiana in Cornuda, Italy (an easy train trip from Venice) is, bar none, my favourite printing museum anywhere. The collection of presses is second to known, and there are no velvet ropes, physical or metaphorical, to keep you from experiencing the collection up close (http://ruk.ca/content/a-visit-tipoteca).

    * The Kreuzberg Museum in Berlin is a lovely little neighbourhood museum with a full letterpress shop on the first floor. This is another place where you should contact in advance to arrange to come and print (http://ruk.ca/content/letterpress-printing-kreuzberg).

    * Nearby in Berlin is Druckwerkstatt, a community graphic arts facility. They only have a single, mostly-working flatbed press, they’re not technically open for public touring, but it’s worthwhile to make arrangements to visit if only to see the huge collection of metal type archived in the basement (http://ruk.ca/content/day-printing-druckwerkstatt).

    * Drukkerijmuseum Meppel in the Netherlands takes, like Basler Papiermühle, a pleasantly holistic view of the printing trade, covering everything from paper to ink to press to bookbinding. The staff is very helpful. (http://ruk.ca/content/field)

    * St Bride Foundation, just off Fleet Street in central London, has an excellent printing library, a printing workshop, a collection of knowledgeable printers, and a bar in the basement. It’s the spiritual heart of the printing trade in London. Be sure to visit the church basement next door which has an exhibit on the association of the church to the trade. (http://ruk.ca/travel/st-bride-foundation-wayzgoose)

    Reply
  7. David Goodrich 8 January, 2017 at 8:00 pm

    The Musée de l’Imprimerie in Nantes, France, is worth a visit if you are in the area.

    Reply

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