In recent months, 450 copies of the inaugural edition of "The Boydtown Standard" were printed, heralding the Boydtown Shipyard Inc.'s publication of a history-based broadside newspaper, in 1840s style.

The souvenir edition of The Boydtown Standard features interesting articles on the original naming of the paper, Boydtown and Ben Boyd history, the establishment of the Ben Boyd History Centre in 2020, details of a current wooden boat-building project in conjunction with the Eden Marine High School, together with advertising for local businesses, all in period style.

Richard Jermyn edited, hand-set and printed it at the Working Printing Museum in Eden, on a Columbian Hand Press circa 1840, an exercise which took two months from start to finish to complete.

"It was a prodigious labour, not just the setting of the type, but having done the printing, everything has to go back where it belongs," Mr Jermyn said,

"We are back in the era before mechanisation of any of this - that was the real burden of hand-set newspapers, distributing everything back in the case for the next day's paper."

Dedicated volunteers Megan Poore and Lois Clarke helped to produce the publication, along with secretary and treasurer of the Boydtown Shipyard, Peter Ayling.

Ball and Doggett, Sydney specialty paper merchants donated the "Envirocare" paper for this edition.

Mr Jermyn said he was quite pleased with the final result and a number of people have said they want to frame the edition.

"It is intended to convey the information in pleasing visual way. The aim is to produce something which if you held it up at arm's length it has a nice even look. It was intended to be in the style of newspapers of the time," he said.

"Setting those three columns in 14 point Garamond type by hand was close to a month's work, which the old compositors might make a scornful comment about, but it took all that time because there were numerous tiny errors which needed correction.

"Something in the future might be sparked off from this, perhaps something about the Port of Eden - it could be The Twofold Bay News," Mr Jermyn said.

You can pick up a complimentary copy, available from the Visitor Information Centres in Eden and Merimbula, from council libraries in Eden, Merimbula, Bega and Tura Beach, and from Eden Antiques in Imlay Street, Eden.

Hand letter press printing demonstrations take place at the Working Printing Museum on Saturdays from 9.30am-2pm or by arrangement, in the basement under Angela's Arcade in Eden. Call Richard Jermyn on 0490 865 818.

As an aside, Richard has been trying to find a new location to house his print set up, the main problem with his current premises being a lack of headroom. If you may be able to assist, all suggestions will be gratefully received.

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