News Archive

Reading's typographers explain Gutenberg's press to Stephen Fry – University of Reading

Stephen Fry finds out exactly what the invention of printing involved in Stephen Fry and the Machine that Made Us on BBC4 at 9pm on Monday 14 April. On hand to help him is Martin Andrews, of the University's Department of Typography & Graphic Communication.

Martin explains the workings of Gutenberg's press to Stephen using a full size working replica, hand-made by Alan May, formerly a lecturer in the Department. Based on research recently published in the Journal of the Printing Historical Society, Alan's press supports the view that a Dürer drawing of an early printing press, long thought erroneous, may in fact be an accurate portrayal.

Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the University, the press featured in the programme has been acquired for the Department, and will soon be on display at Earley Gate.

The programme is expected to be repeated at a later date on BBC2.