505 years old

I was fortunate today to see one of the very first books printed in Scotland. For two hours only, the National Library of Scotland displayed 'The Ballade of Lord Bernard Stewart' which was printed in or about 1508 and put on show on the 500th anniversary today of King James IV death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

James seemed to have been a popular and progressive king and responsible for introducing printing to Scotland by granting Walter Chepman and Androw Myllar a licence to print mainly because he wanted all the legal and official documents to be able to be printed in Scotland. Because they are so rare the books are rarely taken out of the nls vaults and I think the last time one was on show was in 2008. This book was printed for the occasion of the French diplomat's visit to Scotland in 1508.

Helen Vincent, Senior Rare Books Curator, said: 'These are the most treasured printed books in the National Library’s collections. Without James IV's authorisation, printing might not have come to Scotland when it did. He saw the possibilities of this new technology and the need for the country to be able to print its own books……These books were printed five centuries ago a short distance from where they are now kept …… They are a physical link back to a golden age of Scottish culture which came to a sad end after James was killed at Flodden.’