Letterpress printing is a technique of relief printing using a printing press. Many copies are produced by repeated direct impression of an inked, raised surface against sheets or a continuous roll of paper.
This was the normal form of printing text from its invention by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century until the 19th century. It remained in wide use for books and other uses until the second half of the 20th century.
Reading and books have been one of the greatest loves of my life from a very early age, and I think this artefact is beautiful (I love just about anything with lots of little cubby holes!) and preserves part of the history of the printing tradition. I also chose it because books and printing are a defining part of the history and way of life of the city of Oxford.
I remember discovering as an adult that "upper case" and "lower case" letters were named after where the small and capital letters were stored in printers' trays. It was really fascinating to find out the way these trays had shaped our language.
Dr Lorna Robinson, Rumble Museum Director