In association with ALIA, the Penrith Museum of Printing is hosting a day of exhibiting rare books, engravings, letterpress typesetting and machinery on Sunday October 20th, from 11am-1pm.
ALIA is the Australian Library & Information Society, and the event is part of Book Week celebrations. The 11am-1pm event is free but registration is required.
According to PMOP President Bob Lockley, as well as rare books on display, he invites interested parties to:
" Step into history with an immersive experience exploring the art of rare books and "Box Wood Engraving." Discover how intricate images were once hand-carved from wood blocks, with actual examples of these impressive engravings from a time before the 
People of all ages marvel at the way printing and typesetting was crafted pre-internet!advent of photo-mechanical process in 1888. You’ll have the chance to see hand-carved wood blocks bolted together and a full-page spread from the Step into history with an immersive experience exploring the art of "Box Wood Engraving". Discover how intricate images were once hand-carved from wood blocks, with actual examples of these impressive engravings from a time before the advent of photography in 1888. You’ll have the chance to see hand-carved wood blocks bolted together, a full-page from the Pictorial Australian in 1887.
During the presentation, witness live demonstrations of traditional "hand and machine typesetting", and see historical printing presses in action. Learn how books and newspapers were meticulously crafted in a world without modern technology. Marvel at an1841 Columbian Press, responsible for printing the Sydney Morning Herald in the 1800s, and the Wharfedale Press, once used to print the Nepean Times. One of the tour’s highlights is the opportunity to view the press that printed Australia's last letterpress newspaper, the Dorrigo Gazette, on "30 June 2023" , a piece of living history from just last year! "
