Scotland’s Gutenberg: William Ged and the Invention of Stereotype Printing, 1725–49

Twentieth Kenneth Karmiole Lecture on the History of the Book Trade

Lecture by William Zachs, Director of the Blackie House Library and Museum

In this lecture, William Zachs outlines the origins of stereotype printing (print production from metal plates rather than moveable type), then turns his focus to the “non-moveable type” productions of Edinburgh goldsmith William Ged (c. 1683–1749). Taking a forensic look at Ged’s few known works, Zachs hypothesizes the existence of a group of previously unknown stereotyped books, thus offering a revised history of alternative methods of book production in Britain in the first half of the 18th century.

Dr. William Zachs is the Director of the Blackie House Library and Museum, a registered Scottish charity with a mission to bring Scottish culture to a wider audience. He is the author of numerous books and articles on book history and book collecting. In 2013, the University of Edinburgh awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters for his contributions to book historical studies and book curation. He is a Fellow of the National Library of Scotland and an Honorary Fellow at the universities of Edinburgh and Stirling.

This event is free to attend with advance registration and will be held in person at the Clark Library.

Registration will close on Monday, November 17 at 5:00 p.m.

Capacity is limited at the Clark Library; walk-in registrants are welcome as space permits.

This lecture will also be livestreamed on the Center’s YouTube Channel.