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Stereotype plates, invented by William Ged, Edinburgh goldsmith

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Stereotype plates, invented by William Ged, Edinburgh goldsmith
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Stereotype plates are cast in metal from a mould and used for printing pages. These two lead plates were invented by William Ged around 1727 and were used to print the 1744 edition of 'Salust'.

The title page of the work 'Salust' has a Latin inscription which translates as, 'William Ged, goldsmith of Edinburgh produces this, not with movable type as is usual but with cast metal plates'.

Ged, an Edinburgh goldsmith, is said to have invented the stereotyping process but had no capital to exploit it. He went to London in 1729 in partnership with W. Fenner, a stationer. However, his new invention was strongly opposed by traditional printers.

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