LIVERYMAN SIMON TREWIN AND PRINTING PARTNER TANIA DESIGNS A MINIATURE MATCHBOX ALMANACK FOR OPEN HOUSE
30 SEPTEMBER 2024
Wearing my Bell House’s Print Room & Bindery hat and accompanied by my partner-in-print we were so thrilled to participate in the exhibition of fine books and hand bookbinding curated by Liveryman Chris Andrews as part of Stationer’s participation in Open House London, a city-wide initiative that attracted 650 people to The Hall. We were honored to share the space with the like of the Royal Bookbindery, exchanging tips and forming new friendships and the charity Bound By Veterans, with whom the Company has a long association, who have made a real difference by teaching heritage crafts to former servicemen and women with PTSD.
Our contribution was led by Tania, who designed a miniature Matchbox Almanack detailing the Stationers’ Company’s rich association with that particular publishing craze. We actually printed parts of the Almanack in the Great Hall, rather cautiously, on a 300-year-old table, offering kits for visitors to assemble at home. Visitors were clearly captivated by our accompanying display of historical Almanacks and the incredible precision of tiny metal typesetting they demonstrated from centuries ago.
It was humbling to think that Bell House, built in Dulwich in 1117 for the Master of the Stationers’ Company, and now a very active educational trust offering training and enrichment to the widest possible community. was so deeply connected to the history of the company whose Livery I had joined so recently. Standing in the Great Hall, looking towards the Stock Room where all those hundreds of thousands of original Almanacks received their red trade mark, I reflected on how Thomas Wright may have once stood on these very same floorboards. We even presented the current Master, Paul Wilson, with a Matchbox Almanack and speculated whether we were the first to print in the Hall. If anyone knows of other people getting inky there please let me know as I am naturally very competitive!
The day concluded with a photo in front of the stained-glass window of William Caxton and his assistant, Wynkyn De Worde—an inspiring close to a day that felt like a bridge between past and present.
Simon and Tania run the Bell House Print Room & Bindery in Dulwich and would love to show any member of the company around.
Simon@simontrewin.co.uk