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History of the Book: New Evidence on Remi Guedon and the Cambridge Paper Mill

Professor Marc Smith

Professor of Palaeography, École nationale des chartes and École pratique des hautes études (Paris Sciences & Lettres), 
President of the Comité international de paléographie latine

New Evidence on Remi Guedon and the Cambridge Paper Mill (1553-c.1557)

Remi Guedon, mainly known as a protestant printer in Strasbourg, moved to Cambridge at the behest of Martin Bucer (d1551), with plans to set up a paper mill and printing house. He only reached the stage of paper production before his business collapsed and he disappeared without a trace. Since the seminal article by Pohl and Tether (2013), new evidence has come to light from unpublished letters preserved in Strasbourg and a survey of paper stocks in Cambridge archives, which suggests that the mill, in the absence of a printing press, was supported by the esquire bedells of the university as a source of writing paper for administrative purposes. The Parker Library holds essential primary documents concerning Guédon's enterprise together with further material written on paper from his mill, all of which will be examined during the seminar.

This event will take place in the Wilkins Room of the Parker Library.