Hull to be UK City of Culture 2017

Many times on this blog, I have referred to that other, well known, "Hull based paper merchant" referring, of course, to GF Smith & Son.

This morning at 8am, Culture Secretary Maria Miller named Hull as the  UK's next City of Culture, to hold the title in 2017. Kingston upon Hull is known for being the home of poet Philip Larkin, the Ferens gallery and the Truck theatre and the home of one of the better known paper merchants in the UK!

Congratulations to Hull, it's inhabitants, companies, arts organisations et al.

www.hullcc.go.uk
www.gfsmith.com

Posted by Justin Hobson 20.11.2013

Takeo

It was with interest that I read last week in Printweek about the new range of Japanese papers from Takeo, which is being stocked by the other, Hull based paper merchant (...you know who!)

http://www.printweek.com/bulletin/printweekdailybulletin/article/1140982/gfsmith-launches-takeo-range-uk/

Takeo are the market leading, creative paper merchant (they aren't a manufacturer) based in Japan and throughout Asia. It was in the summer of 2008 when Mr. Sakuma from Takeo first visited us in Tonbridge and I was happy to share whatever market information with him that I could offer. At that time (before the financial crisis) their plans were to establish their own distribution outlets in London, Paris and Milan. Although followed with a further visit in 2009, it was obvious that with the global situation and the extraordinarily high Yen exchange rate that their European plans were shelved.

They have a lovely range of papers and it's good to see that some of them, including the highly unusual Pachica, will now be available in the UK. Presumably if all goes well, they'll be able to establish their own warehouses in Europe and offer their full range - which believe it or not is a massive 9,400 items!

www.takeo.jp
http://www.takeo.co.jp/site/english/products/finepapers/index.html

Posted by Justin Hobson 16.07.2012

P.S. After the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, I wrote to Takeo offering our condolencies and was pleased to receive a personally written letter from President and CEO,Mr Shigeru Takeo, thanking me and advising me that there had been no life threatening injuries sustained.

We helped sponsor a poster to raise funds for the relief effort:
 http://justinsamazingworldatfennerpaper.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/japanese-earthquake-charity-poster-sold.html

Beauty in The Making

Yesterday evening I went to the European premiere of "Linotype The Film" and it was brilliant! It was a clever and most engaging piece of documentary film making which neatly combined the historical aspects of this incredible invention by Ottmar Mergenthaler in the late 19th century with the world changing consequences and nearly a hundred years of service making mass print communication a reality and it's relatively recent commercial demise. It's amazing just how many people are still interested in the machine and the process and are keeping it alive.

I loved it. Here is the review with the trailer that I posted earlier in the year:   

http://justinsamazingworldatfennerpaper.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/linotype-film.html

The film was screened as one of the evening events at the week long "Beauty in The Making" expo in London hosted by that other, Hull based, paper company! At an exhibition space in London's Bloomsbury, they set up an exhibition which covered everything from paper making and technology to letterpress printing on Adana presses, handmade envelope demonstrations and a Monotype exhibit featuring some of Eric Gill's original sketches for Gill Sans. All in all, it was an excellent event.

...here are pics, to give you a flavour: 

Doug Wilson, director and producer, of Linotype The Film, with Q&A's after the film screening:

http://www.linotypefilm.com/
www.gfsmith.com

Posted by Justin Hobson 27.04.2012 

Soccer Aid - World Cup 2010 Poster

Now some people might think this is a bit of a strange one to see on my blog as it's not actually printed on our paper BUT it's for charity...(and i'm hoping my reward will be in heaven)

This is a world cup poster which is being sold to raise funds for Soccer Aid, which is a UNICEF charity that raises money to help children around the world and is endorsed by Robbie Williams amongst others. http://www.socceraid.org.uk/.

This A1 size poster has been conceived and designed by David Watson/Trebleseven design.

The Poster was produced in collaboration with G&B Printers in Feltham and is printed on Phoenixmotion.

If you fancy one for the studio, please buy one - all poster sales will benefit Soccer Aid. To get your own copy, please contact david@trebleseven.com

http://www.socceraid.org.uk/
http://www.trebleseven.com/
http://www.gfsmith.com/
http://www.gbprinters.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 17.05.2010