Printing in Perth & the Morison Family
These notes are based on lectures given by Rhoda Fothergill - they were made by a local resident of Perth - Alan Darling - and have been passed to this website.
First recorded bookbinder in Perth was Archibald Steedman in 1587. Bookbinders also did parchment making, barbering and glazier work. They were members of the Wrights’ Incorporation.
c.1750 onwards there are booksellers/publishers in Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews and Perth. Their output included religious tracts, sermons, copies of Blind Harry’s Wallace and Barbour’s Bruce.
c.1760 onwards - John Bissett, stationer, bookbinder, glazier (did binding for the Duke of Atholl)
c.1770 onwards - John Gillies, bookseller, publisher at High Street opposite Guard Vennel (published Gaelic books)
c.1750 onwards - Robert Morison, bookseller; also held the office of Postmaster about the time of the 1745 Rising.
Francis Morison (bookseller, bookbinder, glazier, Deacon of the Wrights)
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Robert Morison (bookseller, postmaster b.1722 d. 1791 or 1798)
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James Morison b.1762 publisher/author Robert Morison b.1764 died aged 89 yrs, printer
James Morison - two sons:
William Morison (son of 1st marriage) author of Encyclopedia Perthensis died aged 26 yrs - Greyfriars Burial Ground
David Morison (son of 2nd marriage) 1792-1855 publisher, architect, inventor
The Morison family were Glasites (independent Scottish church established by John Glas of Tealing in 1730). The Morisons published religious and political texts, the complete works of Gavin Douglas, the works of Dryden, Addison, Pope, Goldsmith, Sheridan, Allan Ramsay, Thomson and lesser-known Scottish poets. They made three attempts to publish subscription periodicals (weekly, fortnightly, monthly) but all failed to last. The family began the Perth Courier in 1809. Their Guide to Perth was published in 1838. In a letter in June 1794 James Morison wrote: "Since January last we have printed about 14,000 volumes".
Perth Courier October 18th 1855
"Death of David Morison. Mr. David Morison expired at Brussels on 12th October, 1855 after a protracted illness. Mr. Morison was well known for many years as a splendid bookseller and publisher. His talents which were excellent were well cultivated by a liberal education and close study. His fondness for literature and especially antiquities raised him to the first literate of the country. While in his teens he contributed to the Classical Journal valuable papers on the Hebrew language. For a number of years he was editor of the Perth Courier which gained him a high reputation for literary journalism under his charge. Our local antiquities were much benefited by his labours not only in the Museum but by a number of valuable publications. His discoveries have given to the world several important inventions and it is only to be regretted that they did not prove more remunerative to himself. He left a daughter and two youthful sons."
Perth Census of 1773 (7,542 inhabitants):
"Account of Tennets in Mr. Mercer of Aldie's Land. South Side of North Street and West Side of the Watergate, Robert Morison, Bookseller who has an apprentice John Peddie from Craigie in the parish of Perth. Robert Burn - subtenant of Robert Morison. Perth 1st February 1773."
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