Chiswick Press

The founder of Chiswick Press was Charles Whittingham (1767-1840).

Upon completion of his printing apprenticeship in Coventry, Whittingham set up his own press in London in 1795, a short-lived Tory journal The Tomahawk. He eventually settled in the Thameside suburb of Chiswick, giving the name of the town to the book publishing division of Charles Whittingham and Co. Whittingham's nephew, Charles Whittingham the younger, joined his uncle as a partner in the firm. The firm then began publishing books, among them a series called "Whittingham's Cabinet Library." After four years the younger Whittingham left the firm and set up his own independent shop in London.

From 1828 until 1840 the work of the two presses was distinct. When the elder Whittingham died in 1840 the younger Whittingham inherited Chiswick Press. In 1829 the younger Whittingham met publisher, book dealer and typophile William Pickering. Their friendship led to an artistic partnership which flourished over three decades and produced some of the finest examples of 19th century English printing. Whittingham died in 1876 and the press was acquired by George Bell who retained the name of Charles Whittingham and Co. Charles Thomas Jacobi, born in London in 1853, was managing editor of the Chiswick Press and a writer and lecturer on printing.

The founder of Chiswick Press was Charles Whittingham (1767-1840). Upon completion of his printing apprenticeship in Coventry, Whittingham set up his own press in London in 1795, a short-lived Tory journal The Tomahawk. He eventually settled in the Thameside suburb of Chiswick, giving the name of the town to the book publishing division of Charles Whittingham and Co. Whittingham's nephew, Charles Whittingham the younger, joined his uncle as a partner in the firm. The firm then began publishing books, among them a series called "Whittingham's Cabinet Library." After four years the younger Whittingham left the firm and set up his own independent shop in London.

From 1828 until 1840 the work of the two presses was distinct. When the elder Whittingham died in 1840 the younger Whittingham inherited Chiswick Press. In 1829 the younger Whittingham met publisher, book dealer and typophile William Pickering. Their friendship led to an artistic partnership which flourished over three decades and produced some of the finest examples of 19th century English printing. Whittingham died in 1876 and the press was acquired by George Bell who retained the name of Charles Whittingham and Co. Charles Thomas Jacobi, born in London in 1853, was managing editor of the Chiswick Press and a writer and lecturer on printing.