UK students, faculty, and staff, along with the wider Lexington community, are invited to get a taste of the unique process of letterpress printing during the King Library Press Spring 2025 Book Arts Weekend featuring artist Virginia McClure.
At 7pm on Friday, April 11, McClure will offer a free public lecture on Waldseemüller’s Map – the first European map to use the name “America” for the newly-discovered lands across the Atlantic – and discuss the monumental task of reprinting the map using letterpress methods. A catered reception will precede the lecture beginning at 6:30pm, and RSVPs are appreciated.
On Saturday, April 12, McClure and the KLP will host a hands-on workshop that gives participants the opportunity to create a small globe from a selection of historical globe gores. The workshop runs from 9am to 3pm, and RSVPs are required.
Founded in 1956, the King Library Press is dedicated to carrying on the craft of producing books and broadsides by hand, from typesetting and printing to decorative paper design and book binding. One of the premier teaching presses in the country, the KLP is renowned for the artistry and craftsmanship of its products, which include dozens of books and hundreds of broadsides, keepsakes, and other ephemera, all printed on its numerous hand-operated presses.
