his improved Albion mono colour hand iron press was manufactured in 1636 and patented in 1883. Most of the administrative work in the early days of the British in India was in writing. While the Indians used local vegetable colour ink, the English used inks and stationery brought from London.

Printing presses initially came to India to meet the missionary work in line with Lord Maculay’s report, when the British believed the only way to break the unity and colonise India would be to break her culture and religion.Therefore, conversion to Christianity was a major initiative by British. This single colour press was used by the British in Ooty, their summer capital. It was then considered to be a very modern unit and therefore served in the office of the Viceroy as “Confidential Document Printer”. It left Ooty in early 1900’s and served the Tarangambadi settlements missionary press in and around Tanjore and later got listed in the STEVE BORGIA INDIAN HERITAGE MUSEUM and is showcased at INDeco Hotels Mahabalipuram.

Trade marked by V&J Figgins of Farringdon Road in London, this piece of art stands as a fine example of the hand press printing technology which served the world’s printing needs for over 300 years prior to the invention of motorized presses in the early 19th century.