Preserve a Press

In 1666, Samuel Pepys recorded in his diary that he had lost the use of his books. With around 250 volumes stacked in his study, he grew increasingly frustrated by the difficulty of accessing them and the risk of damage. His solution? He enlisted ‘Simpson the Joiner’ from the Naval dockyards to help design a ‘cupboard for books’—what he called Presses.

Press Number One houses some truly extraordinary volumes, each with its own unique story and significance.

Originally designed by Simpson the Joiner to accommodate 250 books, Pepys carefully arranged his collection by size, meaning each press contains a fascinating mix of small and large works.

Among the standout items in this press are two Wycliffite Bibles, some of the earliest English translations of the New Testament. These precious volumes are bound in exquisite covers, making them not just valuable for their historical importance but also for their intricate craftsmanship.

Another rare gem housed in this press is a fifteenth-century recipe book, handwritten on paper, a material so rare and costly at the time, as paper was not yet being produced in Britain. This manuscript offers insight into the culinary practices of the era and is a testament to the resourcefulness of those who crafted it by hand. The collection as a whole offers an invaluable glimpse into the past, preserving works of immense cultural, historical, and intellectual value for future generations.

In 1667, Pepys experienced a familiar frustration—his first bookcase quickly ran out of space. To solve the problem, he ordered another, almost identical to the first but with height-adjustable shelves.

Among the most studied works in this press are the six volumes of Ballads. The Pepys Library holds the world's most extensive collection of seventeenth-century broadside ballads, with around 1,800 examples. These were printed on large sheets of paper and passed from person to person, covering everything from public executions and royal weddings to battles and other significant events. Pepys later organised them into sections, including Love Requited and Love Unrequited.

As Pepys built his collection, he became close friends with John Evelyn, who gifted him a translated copy of Instructions Concerning the Erecting of a Library, originally written by Gabriel Naudé, the French Royal Librarian. Evelyn inscribed it, “Be pleas’d to accept this trifle from your humble servant, E.”

The book offered guidance on curating and caring for a library, and Pepys followed much of its advice when organising his own collection. However, he ignored one key recommendation—Evelyn cautioned against arranging books by size, yet Pepys did exactly that, meticulously ordering his volumes from smallest to largest within each bookcase.

The twelve Pepys Presses are just as historically significant as the remarkable collection of books, manuscripts, documents, and prints they have safeguarded for 300 years. As part of the Pepys Restoration Project, expert historic furniture conservators will carefully restore these unique bookcases to ensure they continue protecting the collection for centuries to come.

With your support, we can preserve this extraordinary library for future generations.

If you would like to contribute to the restoration of a Press or learn more about the books housed within them, please contact the Alumni and Development Office.

The College is committed to funding this major restoration from its reserves, but we are asking our Members and Friends to help raise half of the £6.3 million needed to restore this historic building and safeguard the Pepys Library for future generations.

Every contribution to the Pepys Restoration Project plays a vital role in preserving this remarkable heritage.

If you donate £1000 in support of the Pepys Restoration Project of your name will be listed in the Pepys Book of Benefactors.

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