mprentit:
500 Years of the Scottish Printed Word
Sir
Sean Connery popped into the National Library of Scotland this week for a
sneak preview of the summer exhibition, Imprentit: 500 years of the
Scottish Printed Word. During his visit, Sir
Sean saw the very first Scottish printed books alongside a host
of treasures from across the centuries, showing the printed history of
Scotland in education, literature,
politics, religion and science.
It
was the second time that Sir Sean has been to the National Library,
following on from last year's visit to see the John Murray Archive. As he toured
the exhibition, Sir Sean remarked: "This is a marvellous
place." He was particularly interested in the works of James VI and the
Proclamation of the dissolution of the Scottish Parliament from
1707.
The
exhibition was officially opened to the public last night by
Minister for Culture Linda Fabiani MSP, who said: "Literature and
a love of the printed word has always featured strongly in Scottish life.
I am delighted to open this exhibition which showcases our literary treasures
from the past 500 years. With such a range of wonderful material on
display it will be sure to attract many visitors over the
summer."
Imprentit: 500 Years of the Scottish
Printed Word
Summer exhibition at the National Library
of Scotland
From Bibles to the Beezer,
dictionaries to demonology, Lanark to logarithms and from temperance to television, the printed word in Scotland
has had a profound impact on every aspect of our nation's life over the
last five centuries. Imprentit: 500 Years of
the Scottish Printed Word is a major new exhibition at the National
Library of Scotland, which takes a fascinating look at this rich history,
giving visitors a rare chance to view some of the highlights from the
Library's vast collection of treasures.
From the very earliest books from the presses of Chepman and
Myllor in 1508, visitors unique
opportunities to see a number of firsts: in politics, the first printed acts of
the Scottish Parliament from as early as 1540, and the proclamation of its
dissolution in 1707. From science, Napier's logarithms, Logie
Baird's Televisor, and Hutton's theories which paved the way for Darwin and others. Among
the other firsts: the first bible printed in Scotland, the first medical book,
the first book written by a woman, the first historical novel, the first
newspapers and the first ever Beezer annual. Childrens' books from across
the centuries, football and sci-fi fanzines and the runners and riders for the
1728 Leith Races are all there too.
The exhibition covers a lot of ground; starting with the
very origins of printing in Scotland, before going on to explore key themes
including politics, education, religion, literature, science, entertainment,
children's books and the story of some of Scotland's most famous
publishers. Each of these themes could be a major exhibition in itself but, to
mark this major anniversary, the Library is
bringing them all together to show the role print has played in people's lives,
whilst showing off the remarkable
breadth and depth of the NLS collections.
The exhibition is part of a year-long nationwide celebration
of 500 years of printing in Scotland
which has seen a programme of events and exhibitions across the country.
Details of current and future events can be found at a dedicated website: http://www.500yearsofprinting.org/.
NLS has also produced a created a web feature charting the spread of printing
throughout Scotland, which
features digitised versions of the first items printed on the first presses
from over 30 locations across Scotland
(http://www.nls.uk/printing/index.cfm).
The
exhibition will be supported by a summer-long programme of free events
including talks on a wide range of subjects including fanzines, print and
politics, Scots language, Gaelic in print and a range of family events and
learning workshops. Full details will shortly be available on the NLS
website at http://www.nls.uk/events/index.html.
National
Librarian Martyn Wade said: "This
exhibition is a wonderful showcase for the Library's collections and for
the amazing and diverse output printed in Scotland over the last 500 years.
There's something for everyone; the unique first printed items,
groundbreaking ideas like logarithms and television. Historic figures and
landmark events, literary giants past and present, pioneers of self-published
fanzines, poetry and political pamphlets sit alongside a host of fascinating
snapshots of lifestyle, education and childhood throughout the ages. The scope
of what is on show really is impressive - all of Scotland's story is in
here."
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EXHIBITION
Origins of Printing
The only surviving copy of the first printed Scottish Book
from Chepman and Myllor (http://www.nls.uk/firstscottishbooks/index.html),
is one of the undoubted highlights of the exhibition and the section on display
for Imprentit is from a ‘flyting', or poetic duel of sorts between
William Dunbar and Walter Kennedy from 1508, in which they use colourful and at times
downright insulting language. Also in this section are the Aberdeen Breviary (a
book of prayers, hymns and psalms from 1510), the earliest printed acts of
Parliament (1542), the first printed book on Scottish history (1540) and James
VI's Daemonologie (1597),
decrying ‘these detestable slaves of the Devill, the witches or
enchaunters".
Politics
The proclamation of the dissolution of the Scottish
Parliament (1707), and Basilikon Doron,
James VI's treatise on kingship (1599) sit alongside pamphlets and
journals such as a 1995 edition of The
Scottish Anarchist, and Miner,
a monthly journal produced by Keir Hardie in the days before he founded the Labour Party (1887).
Science and Technology
Logie Baird's article in the Chambers Journal (1923), sandwiched in between
articles on door-latches and a bean-slicing machine, is the first published
account of his newly-patented prototype television apparatus, and a leaflet
from 1926 promotes the "splendid reality" of his Televisor. Also in
this section, Napier reveals his invention of logarithms (1614). The only known
copy of the first medical book printed in Scotland: Ane Breve Descriptioun of the Pest (1568) is on show, as is the first full version of
Hutton's theory (1788) which proposed that the interior of the earth was
hot, and that the planet was far older than previously suggested, thus paving
the way for new scientific thinking, not least Darwin's theory of
evolution.
Education
The first ever Encyclopedia
Britannica originated in Edinburgh,
and the first edition is on display here (1771). ‘A Galick and English Vocabulary' (1741) is notable as the first secular book printed in Gaelic, and another
fascinating piece is James Beattie's A
List of Two Hundred Scoticisms (1779), which sees the Aberdeen poet
and philosopher give a list of Scots words and phrases to avoid using,
particularly if you wanted your writings to be acceptable in London.
Religion
The first bible printed in Scotland (1579), the first
printed work by a female author (Ane Godly
Dreame by Elizabeth Melville - 1603) and a miniature Koran
from around 1900 sit alongside two rather more incendiary works: Laud's Book of Common Prayer (1637) which sparked
riots which led to the Covenanter wars, and a poster from students at the Royal
College of Edinburgh who were announcing their intention to burn "the
Effigies of Antichrist, the Pope of Rome" at the Mercat cross at 12 noon
on Christmas day, 1689.
Literature
The first edition of Sir Walter Scott's Waverley (1814) marks Scotland
as the birthplace of the historical novel. Burns features as well, with an 1823
chapbook containing ‘My Love is Like a
Red Red Rose' which was only a penny, meaning that even the
poorest readers were able to obtain it. Many more contemporary artists feature,
from Sorley MacLean to Alexander McCall-Smith, and the languages and voices of Scotland
across Scots, English, Gaelic, Latin and Shetlandic are all represented. Also
of interest is a 1994 edition of Kevin Williamson's Rebel Inc fanzine,
which is famously the title in which Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting began life.
Other Highlights
- Scotland's first newspaper - two issues of the Caledonian Mercury from 1661.
- A host of childrens' books from across the centuries,
including the first ever Beezer annual (1957). - A look at self-publishing and fanzines, including diverse
items from a Motherwell football fanzine (1990) and science fiction from Dundee (1984) to modern pamphlet poetry. Another
pamphlet, Condemned from the Dock (1918), contains John MacLean's address to the jury at his trial during
the Red Clydeside period. - The list of horses to run for the "Fifty Pound
Sterling Plate" at Leith Races in 1728 - Leisure and lifestyle items such as 19th century
puzzle books, The Scots Gard'ner (1683) and 1907's Cutting-Out of
Underclothing: With Diagrams. - Trade catalogues (including the classic 1893 Illustrated Catalogue of Sanitary Appliances)
- The rules of the Select Society (1754), whose membership
included David Hume and Adam Smith, including the instruction that
"during the time of the debates, no Gentleman shall stand before the
fire"
Background information
- More on
500 years celebrations here: http://www.500yearsofprinting.org/ - More on
Chepman & Myllar and the first printed books here: http://www.nls.uk/firstscottishbooks/index.html
About the National Library of Scotland
- The National Library of Scotland is a major European
research library and is the world's leading centre for the study of Scotland and the Scots - an information
treasure trove for Scotland's
knowledge, history and culture. - The Library's collections are of world-class
importance. Key areas include rare books, manuscripts, maps, music,
official publications, business information, science and technology, and
the modern and foreign collections. - The Library holds well over 13 million items, including
printed items, approximately 100,000 manuscripts and nearly 2 million
maps. Every week it collects approximately 6,000 new items via Legal
Deposit. - NLS holds many of Scotland's literary treasures
including the last letter of Mary Queen of Scots, written six hours before
her execution; the Order for the Massacre of Glencoe 1692; the
world's greatest collections of Sir Walter Scott and Thomas Carlyle
manuscripts; works of Robert Burns; Robert Louis Stevenson papers; the
Murthly Hours (late 13th C); and modern collections of Scottish
writers as well as significant foreign collections dating back to a copy
of the Gutenberg bible (1455) - See www.nls.uk for
further information about the Library and its collections, and for
information on events being held at the Library please see www.nls.uk/news/events.html
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Visit the National Library of Scotland online at www.nls.uk
CELEBRATING 500 YEARS OF SCOTTISH PRINTING 1508-2008
http://www.500yearsofprinting.org
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The
exhibition is now open to the public on Friday 27 June, closing on Sunday 12
October. Opening times are Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm
and Sunday 2pm to 5pm. Further information on the National Library of Scotland here:
www.nls.uk
**********************************************************************
Visit the National Library of Scotland online at www.nls.uk
CELEBRATING 500 YEARS OF SCOTTISH PRINTING 1508-2008
http://www.500yearsofprinting.org
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