Compositor Collection

Typesetting by hand, Morning Post newspaper, London
A roomful of male compositors in London, typesetting the pages of the Morning Post newspaper by hand

Typesetter at work
A compositor at a the Lund Humphries print works places a small type glyph on a forme rack, finishing a page of imposing surface text prior to inking and printing. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

Compositor at Works
An American compositor at work in the days of manual type setting. Date: 1887

Member certificate of the London Society of Compositors (colour litho)
BAL5875 Member certificate of the London Society of Compositors (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Trades Union Congress, London, UK; English, out of copyright

PRINTING OFFICE, 1861. Women employed as compositors at a printing office in London, England. Color engraving, 1861

Compositors working in printing shop, Hampton Institute, Hampton, Virginia, 1899 or1900

The International Exhibition: Mitchel's type-composing machine, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The International Exhibition: Mitchel's type-composing machine, 1862. The compositor is in shape a right-angled triangle, placed horizontally

Operators of a Type Composing Machine
Two men operate a type composing machine. The machines collect and arrange the metal types used in early film photographic printing processes, a job previously done by human hand

Photographs of women at work, in traditionally male roles. With heading, Where Woman Wants To, She Can! The photographs captioned, Paris: Lady Billsticker, Leipsic: Girl Messenger

Printer (engraving)
2801997 Printer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Printer. Illustration for An Illustrated Vocabulary For The Use Of The Deaf And Dumb (SPCK)

Women working at the Victoria Press 1861
Women and girls working as compositors under the supervision of a man at the Victoria Press printing office in Great Coram Street, London

William Caxton in his printing shop (litho)
3643527 William Caxton in his printing shop (litho) by Sullivan, Edmund Joseph (1869-1933) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: William Caxton in his printing shop)

Box lid, Le Petit Compositeur, game
Box lid, Le Petit Compositeur (The Little Compositor) game

Robert Etienne (coloured engraving)
2802149 Robert Etienne (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Robert Etienne)

Interieur d un atelier de compositeurs (engraving)
3629474 Interieur d un atelier de compositeurs (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Interieur d un atelier de compositeurs)

Compositor (chromolitho)
668351 Compositor (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Compositor. Advertising card.); © Look and Learn

The Development of Printing, plate 5 from Nova Reperta
XJF341889 The Development of Printing, plate 5 from Nova Reperta (New Discoveries) engraved by Philip Galle (1537-1612) c.1600 (engraving) by Straet

Typesetters and Compositors, c. 1860 (colour litho)
CHT274975 Typesetters and Compositors, c.1860 (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris

Dutch printing office (engraving)
5227236 Dutch printing office (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dutch printing office)

Robert Etienne (coloured engraving)
3093023 Robert Etienne (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Robert Etienne)

Compositor at Work (engraving)
665375 Compositor at Work (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Compositor at Work)

Typesetters working at the Publishers Printing Co. New York (silver gelatin print)
MNY381221 Typesetters working at the Publishers Printing Co. New York (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 19.2x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York

Newspaper printing, Mexborough, South Yorkshire, 1959. Artist: Michael Walters
Newspaper printing, Mexborough, South Yorkshire, 1959. The ruling up table at the South Yorkshire Times, which was used to check the layouts were in line for the printing process

Compositors and Pressmen, North China Daily News Office, 1910. Artist: Cox Company Ltd
Compositors and Pressmen, North China Daily News Office, 1910. From The British Printer Vol. XXIII. [Raithby, Lawrence & Co. Ltd, London and Leicester, 1910]

Hand composition room, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Long Island City, New York, 1922. From The Architectural Forum Volume XXXVII. [Rogers and Manson, New York, 1922]

Printing office, c1600. On the left compositors are at work setting up text using letters from a case in front of them. In the centre background type is being inked ready to be printed on to paper in

Sydney Waterlow Young
SIR SYDNEY HEDLEY WATERLOW distinguished printer, depicted as a young man working as a compositor in Paris. Date: 1822 - 1906

PRINTING OFFICE, c1710. Woodcut, English, c1710

HINE: COMPOSITOR, 1917. A young compositor earning $7.00 a week in a Sixth Avenue printing office in New York City after learning the trade in public school. Photograph by Lewis Hine, February 1917

HINE: TYPESETTING, 1917. A schoolboy learning typesetting at the Training School for Deaf Mutes in Sulphur, Oklahoma. Photograph by Lewis Hine, April 1917

English printing workshop c1719. On the left the compositor is selecting type from the case. In the centre the printer is holding the inking pads which he will apply to the type for four pages locked

TYPESETTER, 19th CENTURY. Line engraving, 19th century

LONDON: PRINTING OFFICE. The Victoria Press in Great Coram Street, London, England, for the employment of women as compositors. Wood engraving, English, 1861

Printing press, 16th century
Printing press. Historical artwork of men working in a 16th century printing press. The printers are in the foreground whilst, behind them

Hand Compositor receiving spacing materials
Reserve supplies of spacing material are brought to the hand compositor so that his time is not wasted in journeys to the store at the Lund Humphries Printing Works. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

Compositor and ranks of Chinese Types
The Head Compositor and ranks of Chinese Types at the Lund Humphries Printing Works. Photograph by Heinz Zinram

French Compositor 1850
French compositor at work placing individual letters in his stick by hand

Compositor at Work
A compositor at work in pre- mechanical days, picking out the individual letters to make up the text held in the holder beside him

Compositor at Wors
A compositor at work, setting the type for a book individual letter by individual letter, to say nothing of spaces and punctuation

Printing Blocks 1760S
How printing blocks are built up from individual characters, each one placed by the compositor, manually

Dutch Printing Office
Interior view of a busy Dutch printing office

Printing, 16th Century
A printing office showing the compositor, the printers and the proof-reader at work

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The art of typesetting by hand was a meticulous craft mastered by the skilled compositor. In the bustling city of London, these craftsmen could be found diligently working at their trade, ensuring that every word and letter was perfectly arranged on the page. One such place where these talented individuals could be seen in action was the Morning Post newspaper office. Here, compositors toiled away, meticulously arranging type to create beautifully set pages for publication. Their expertise did not go unnoticed, as evidenced by the prestigious membership certificate from the London Society of Compositors proudly displayed on one compositor's wall. This colorful lithograph symbolized their dedication and skill within their profession. In another snapshot from history, we catch a glimpse of women breaking barriers as they worked as compositors in a printing office in 1861 London. This rare color engraving showcases their determination to excel in traditionally male-dominated roles. Advancements in technology brought about changes in this age-old craft with the introduction of type composing machines operated by skilled hands. These operators embraced innovation while upholding the traditions and precision associated with being a compositor. Photographs captured moments when women defied societal norms and pursued careers typically reserved for men. From lady billstickers in Paris to girl messengers in Leipsic and even women coal miners in Charleroi, these images celebrated female empowerment across various industries - including printing. Even historical figures like William Lloyd Garrison were not exempt from getting their hands dirty as they set up type for their papers using lithography techniques. The printer's artistry came alive through engravings that showcased both skill and creativity. The Victoria Press became an emblematic space where women made significant contributions to typesetting during 1861. Their presence shattered gender stereotypes while leaving an indelible mark on the world of printing. Looking further back into history, we find ourselves transported to William Caxton's printing shop through a lithograph.