In co-operation with the NSW State Library’s Rare Book Week 2025, the Penrith Museum of Printing is staging a free two-hour presentation session on Tuesday 21 October, from 1.30-3.30pm.
As part of the multiple-site events lined up for the State Library’s Rare Book Week, the Print Museum will host three exciting speakers covering fascinating periods of typeface in time, from the Renaissance to Google.
The presentations will cover how fonts were created, the impact of the Linotype machine, and the evolution of book structures, as well as the development of uniquely Australian and NZ typefaces such as Sydney Gothic, Kograh, Ballarat condensed, and Christchurch bold.
As a working Museum featuring Linotype and Letterpress machines, the expert presentations will be followed by live demonstrations of these processes and much more.
Facsimiles of the Gutenberg 42-line Bible and the Illuminations with hidden secrets will be revealed, as well as examples of Box Wood engravings and historical books and Newspapers will also be on display.
There will also be an early 1916 edition of one of Australia’s top-selling books, CJ Dennis’ Songs of a Sentimental Bloke. The first print run was only 2500, but it proved so popular it was reprinted time and time again, reaching an estimate 300,000 copies or more, remaining in print until 2018.
Visitors can also immerse themselves in the Living Museum and try their hand at setting type, letter by letter, in 12pt, while enjoying light refreshments.
Attendee numbers have to be strictly limited due to space and safety constraints, so we recommend booking by phone on: 0408 412 708 or by email to the Museum’s president: ralockley07@gmail.com.
