Eyre and Spottiswoode
of 6, Middle New Street, London, E.C. King's Printers and Government Booksellers
of East Harding Street, London, E.C.4, and 2, Victoria Street, Westminster, Government Book Department
of 33, Paternoster Row, E.C. King's Printers and General Booksellers
1767 Charles Eyre received a patent as the King's Printer[1]
1785 Andrew Strahan operated as king’s printer with Charles Eyre at 8 East Harding Street, Shoe Lane, off Fleet Street, and separately ran his private printing business in nearby Little New Street and New Street Square.
1819 Andrew Strahan retired from formal management of the businesses, which was continued by his nephews Andrew and Robert Spottiswoode
1832 After the sudden death of Robert Spottiswoode, Andrew Spottiswoode remained in sole charge of the private firm of Spottiswoode and Co for the next 16 years, as well as continuing to operate as king’s printer with Eyre and Spottiswoode.
1845 George Edward Eyre (Charles' grandson) and Andrew Spottiswoode were printers to the Queen's most excellent majesty for Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1845.
Their sons subsequently ran the business.
Mid-19th century: the Strahan's printing business at the King's House became Eyre and Spottiswoode Ltd; the private business continued as Spottiswoode, Ballantyne and Co. Ltd.
1866 The death of Andrew Spottiswoode marked the end of the personal link between Spottiswoodes and Eyre and Spottiswoode, which were continued separately by the two branches of the Spottiswoode family.[2]
1875 George Edward Eyre and William Spottiswoode were printers to the Queen's most excellent majesty for Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Through his (Andrew Strahan) partnership with Charles Eyre and his son's with Robert Spottiswoode, the company operated as Eyre and Spottiswoode.
1878 Eyre and Spottiswoode began producing Christmas cards on a grand scale, in London.
Good taste, respect for elegance of design and artistic excellence ensured the popularity of Eyre and Spottiswoode’s output of Christmas and New Year cards.
1901 The firm was re-appointed King's Printer after the accession of King Edward VII in May 1901.
1922 Advert as Publishers and Printers of Fine Art Prints in Colour, from Old and Modern Masters, Art Calendars, etc. Also: Magazine, Catalogue, Lithographic and Offset Printers. (Stand No. K.104) [3]
1922 Death of George Edward Briscoe Eyre (1840-1922).
1929 They became a publisher of the same name after 1929.
Later became part of Associated Book Publishers and merged with Methuen and Co in the 1970s.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Times, Feb 21, 1922
- ↑ History of Parliament
- ↑ 1922 British Industries Fair Advert lxxviii; and p27