A tactile voyage through the annals of printing: the Musée de l’Imprimerie

Located in the heart of Lyon, France, the Musée de l’Imprimerie offers a tangible exploration of the printing and graphic arts industries. Housed in the Hôtel de la Couronne - a building given to the City of Lyon by the banking corporation LCL S.A. in 1957 - it holds a fascinating collection that shows the beginnings of Western printing from the fifteenth century.

As you venture through the museum, you’ll unearth the historical evolution of the book and delve into the intricate beginnings of printing in Lyon, from Martin Husz, Josse Bade, and Sébastien Gryphe’s work to more modern inventions, such as the Higonnet and Moyroud Lumitype-Photon phototypesetter and the BBR system of computer typesetting.

Your tour will illuminate the progress of the printing industry, from the fifteenth century to the present day. The museum is dedicated to enhancing, conserving, and documenting the heritage of printed books and graphic arts, featuring works by early printers such as Etienne Dolet, Jean de Tournes, and Guillaume Rouillé.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons