James Urquhart Anderson

James Urquhart Anderson

The young James attended the Kirkwall school before following his father into the book binding trade. After serving his apprenticeship he went for a few weeks training in printing in Leith.

By this time plans had been laid to expand the business and when James returned to Orkney in the 1820s, his printing skills complemented the binding expertise he already possessed.

Whether James brought the first printing press to Orkney is unclear - some sources stating that he "got a small hand printing press and stock of type, on easy terms" from a Mr Traill of Woodwick, who had taking up priting as a hobby.

Another tale explains that Mr Traill had bought a machine for the Kirkwall school but as no one knew how to use it, James was called in to either teach or demonstrate the press.

Whatever the truth, this small tabletop machine - a Ruthven Printing Press - was put to commercial use by James in 1821 and he became Orkney's first printer.

The Growth of the Business