August 24, 1456

It is believed that on August 24, 1456 the first printing of the Gutenberg Bible was completed, an event which marks a significant turning point in the history of literature and printing. Also, as we have mentioned here before, August 24th is Saint Bartholomew's Day, or the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, and he is the patron saint of bookbinders and leather workers. So, it should be no surprise that August 24th came to have some significance in the book trades.

Since there was a feast already in the works, August 24th came to be a time for master printers to host a party for their journeymen and apprentices at the end of the summer season, an event which became known as a wayzgoose. The term wayzgoose is now used a bit more broadly and can refer to various types of social gatherings, open-studios, parties, etc., hosted by printshops or binderies at any time of year.

As far as I know, there were no specific wayzgoose events happening locally this weekend; however, the Halifax Art Book Fair took place here on August 22-23, and it could certainly qualify as such. There were about 35 exhibitors ranging from book artists to small presses to special libraries. An apt time for celebrating these contributions to the modern book scene!


Halifax Art Book Fair
halifaxartbookfair.ca