Ink In Their Blood: Print Apprentices Make Good
“James Franklin, printer, in Queen’s Street, wants a likely lad for an apprentice.”[1] The life of a printer’s apprentice or “devil” was no picnic. It usually involved long hours of arduous labor for little or no pay with only small hope of advancement. Apprenticeship – until at least the middle
Book Traces
My first book love was the odd world of medieval manuscript art: an age defined by distinctive books that are inherently unique in form if not content. These handwritten and handmade books form the core of my knowledge of books and the advent of the age of printing alone is
Ink Balls and Printing
Up until the mid 19th century ink balls (also commonly called dabbers or inking balls) were used to apply ink to letter presses and in print making. An ink ball was made of sheepskin, inside of which wool or horsehair was placed, and a wooden handle. The finished product looks