Eyres' Press, Warrington (1756-1803) : An Embryo University Press

Owl Books, Wigan, first edition, 1993. Laminated boards, gilt cover-title, 22 cm,. 127 pp, ills, facs. From the blurb: "As the eighteenth century progressed, provincial printing presses gradually challenged the London and Oxbridge monopoly. At first their trade was in commercial printing, in the provision of cheap popular literature, and sometimes in publishing a local news sheet. Manchester and Liverpool were early leaders in this movement, but between these two Warrington came to excel in the second half of the century. William Eyres was of the third generation of his family in this business; with his brother, still in their early 20s they launched a local newspaper, one of the earliest in Lancashire. This soon failed, but trade continued and probably owed much at this stage to their popular chap books. But then came the Warrington Academy, with its wealth of literary and academic talent; a thriving symbiosis soon developed. This author has argued that Warrington's academy was nothing less than a "stillborn University", challenging the Oxbridge monopoly for a season. With this in mind the story of Eyres' establishment is now presented as an “Embryo University Press," and so this account complements his Academy book. (1989) Signed by the author on the front free endpaper. Very Good in Very Good dustwrapper.