The visit to the York Minster Library, organised by Liveryman Robert McClements, included a private viewing hosted by Sarah Griffin, rare books librarian at the library – which houses 90,000 books.
The viewing offered a chance to see one of very few surviving copies of the so called ‘Wicked Bible’, which features a famous typo that proved a disaster for printer Robert Barker, a Past Master of the Stationers’ Company.
Printed in 1631, it left out the word “not” from the seventh commandment, meaning it reads “Thou shalt commit adultery”. Barker was fined £300 – the equivalent to £63,000 in 2024, for incorrect printing.
A viewing of The Pica, the first book printed in York – in 1510 – was also part of the library visit.
At a subsequent lunch at Grays Court, organised by Northern Stationers’ chair Richard Walker, current Stationers’ Company master Paul Wilson thanked McClements for arranging the day – which attracted around 20 guests.
Wilson added: “There is lots of work going on well away from London, particularly in fields like packaging, and I think it’s very important for us to get outside of London and occasionally remind ourselves where things are being done.”
Following lunch, some members of the group visited the Minster while others went to Quacks Printers – based in the city centre – where its managing director Martin Nelson hosted a visit that included a look at its Arab and Albion letterpress machines, although the company’s day-to-day printing today is largely digital.
The day concluded for some of the group, including Printweek, with a visit to Thin Ice Press: The York Centre for Print, a new centre recently launched in York to celebrate the city’s tradition of printing.
Manager Lizzy Holling gave the group a tour of the new building, which houses powered proofing presses, hand presses, tabletop and iron presses among other kit.
The Northern Stationers, who organised the visit, stated that despite holding days like these that focus on print’s heritage, the Company is not only interested in history.
It also has its annual Warrants scheme and Innovation Excellence Awards, while recent developments have included the extension of corporate membership to include SMEs, while membership is available at different levels – some of which includes the use of the 17th century Stationers’ Hall in London, which has undergone a £7.5m refurbishment.
The Company’s charitable works include bursaries and support for Leigh Stationers’ Academy, one of the first schools in the UK to specialise in digital media that will produce generations of school leavers with an understanding of, and an interest in, the communications and content industries.
McClements said: “The Stationers’ Company is quite unique, there’s a lot of fun and a serious side that allows you to give back to the industry and respect its history with a great network of around 800 like-minded folk.”
He further quipped: “You can even exercise your right to drive a sheep over Southwark Bridge – but that’s another story.”
The Stationers’ Company was formed in 1403 and today represents industries including printing, packaging, publishing, paper and board making, book binding, journalism, writing, content providing, digital publications and design, calligraphy, librarianship and archivists, and broadcasters.
Northern Stationers is an informal group of 10 to 12 which meets around three or four times a year. Its purpose is to promote the Stationers’ Company, to arrange an annual visit to encourage activities outside London, and to encourage attendance of London events.
