Chapter XL: Section VIII: Printing, and Bookbinding

In the preceding volumes, the introduction and progress of printing in Scotland was noticed;¹ and some notice of its modern development seems requisite. The quantity of printing executed in Scotland prior to the eighteenth century was not large, and consisted for the most part of ballads, poetry, pamphlets, sermons, and a few other works. The first work printed in Glasgow was the protestation of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and of the nobility, burghs, ministers, and commons, “subscribers of the Covenant, lately renewed, made in the High Kirk, and at the Market Cross of Glasgow, the 28th of November, 1638. Printed at Glasgow, by George Anderson, in the year of grace 1638.”² But Glasgow was among the first places which attained a reputation for printing in Scotland. The two brothers, Robert and Andrew Foulis, were cultured and accomplished men. Both were educated in the University of Glasgow; and in 1742, Robert commenced business as a printer and bookseller in Glasgow. In 1743, he was appointed printer to the University, and was accommodated with premises within the College buildings. Andrew joined the business; and they printed a series of classical books in a style far superior to any before executed in Scotland. They were not only the foremost printers of their day, but they also did much to promote the culture of painting and art.

¹ Mackintosh’s _History of Civilisation in Scotland_, Volume
II., pages 299‒303; Volume III., page 363.

² Macgregor’s _History of Glasgow_, page 211.

In 1780, there were twenty-seven printing offices in Edinburgh. Although stereotyping was invented early in the eighteenth century, by William Ged, a goldsmith in Edinburgh, and practised by him in 1730, it was long before this art was brought into use in printing establishments. In the present century the process has been brought to great perfection, and has for many years been universally practised. In short, it may be truly said that the great development of the modern newspaper press, and the incessantly increasing necessity for expeditious work, has tended greatly to the invention of new machinery, and the improvement of the whole apparatus and appliances now in operation in large printing establishments.

It was in connection with newspapers that the printing machines were first actually worked, and steam power applied to printing. After a long series of trials and experiments, and the exercise of much ingenuity, the printing machines were brought to a high degree of efficiency. They began to be used in Britain in the first quarter of this century, and were perfected by degrees. The _London Times_ was first printed by a machine on the 28th of November, 1814. There are now various kinds of machines used for printing newspapers from stereotyped plates placed on revolving cylinders, which can print many thousands of copies per hour. The “Victory” printing machine, used in many large newspaper establishments, is an admirably perfect piece of mechanism. This machine, on being set in motion, feeds itself from a large roll of paper, and throws off the printed copies at a surprisingly rapid rate, neatly folded and ready to be despatched.

The stereotyping process itself has been much improved and perfected during the past forty years. Indeed, it has become so indispensable that the daily newspapers circulated throughout the country could not be produced without its aid. In short, there has been a complete revolution in the modes of printing within the past hundred years.

In all the large printing establishments in Scotland machinery and steam-power are employed. Many kinds of printing machines are now used, each specially adapted for different kinds and classes of work. In some establishments all kinds of printing is executed; others limit themselves chiefly to special lines, such as book-printing; while some carry on both printing and lithography, most of the book-printing firms execute stereotyping. Edinburgh is the chief centre of the book-printing trade in Scotland, though this branch is carried on more or less in all the chief towns of the country.

A large quantity of excellent printing is annually executed in Scotland. In illustrated works ample scope is afforded for the display of taste and artistic skill, and good specimens of this branch of work have been produced in this country.

According to the census of 1871, there were 5609 printers in Scotland. But including all the branches of business directly connected with the printing trade, there were upwards of 16,000 persons employed. In 1891, 12,329 persons were so employed.

In the bookbinding trade machines are used for performing a great number of operations. Many attempts have been made to supersede hand-labour in folding by machines, and in the common kinds of work such machines are used. In every large bookbinding establishment the division of labour is carried out to the minutest particular: for instance, the case-makers are divided into six or eight sections, each performing a special part of the work, and before a book is bound it passes through eighteen or twenty different hands.

This department of work also affords considerable scope for the exercise of taste and skill in selecting the various colours of cloth, forming devices for the boards, and details of ornamental work. The styles of binding are endless, and many beautiful specimens are produced in Scotland. In 1871, there were 3113 persons employed in this branch of industry, of whom 1820 were females. In 1891, there were 4,405 hands employed in it, of whom 2,888 were females.