Adopt a Printing Block

We’ve already raised £30,000 — 75% of our £40,000 goal.  With your help, we can reach the finish line and accelerate this important work.

We are thrilled to announce a major milestone: over 2,000 wooden printing blocks from our historic collection have been registered, with 600 now digitised and proudly bearing the names of their generous supporters. These remarkable blocks, used to illustrate early publications of the Society and others, tell a vivid story of our shared history.

Dating back to before their move with us from Somerset House in 1875, these blocks feature an astonishing variety of antiquities: Bronze Age brooches, bold broadside illustrations, medieval arches, Renaissance architecture, monumental brasses, ancient burials, signatures, seals, and crests. Their survival reflects the dedication and vision of our early members, who safeguarded these treasures for future generations.

Please help us continue this legacy. By adopting a woodblock, you’ll play a vital role in preserving and documenting this extraordinary collection, ensuring it remains accessible to researchers, enthusiasts, and the public worldwide.

Each adopted block will be:

• Cleaned, catalogued, photographed, and safely re-stored
• Fully accessioned into the museum collection
• Added to our Collections Online platform, complete with your name permanently displayed alongside the record, acknowledging your indispensable support

This project will culminate in a public display and series of talks, sparking new research into the collection’s origins, usage, and significance.

If you’re a Fellow or researcher with insights into this collection, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected].