40 years supporting publishers in Scotland

Founding publishers

Record keeping wasn’t as good in 1974 as it is now but as far as we can find out, the Scottish Publishers Association was set up in 1974 by ten publishers. Here are a selection of the books they published round about that time (except for The Silver Bough first published by Wm MacLellan in 1957). From top right clockwise: The Tobacco Lords - TM Devine (John Donald, 1975); Fergusson: A Bi-Centenary Handsel - Alexander Runciman (Reprographia, 1974); The Silver Bough - F Marian McNeill (Wm. MacLellan, 1975); Buile Shuibhn - Uilleam Neill (Club Leabhar, 1974); Recipes from Scotland - F Marian McNeill (The Albyn Press, 1974); Late of Giffnock (Alex Aiken, 1974); Scottish Home Industries (Molendinar, 1974); War Lords - Sima Qian (Southside, 1974); Cromarty (Canongate Publishers Ltd, 1974); and The Remarkable Gamgees - Ruth D’arcy Thompson (The Ramsay Head Press, 1974). The 1975 AGM lists Alex Aiken as Alec Aitken.
1974 Jeffrey Street, Cromarty and Cuts

In 1974 Canongate was based at 17 Jeffrey Street. Founded in 1973, Cromarty: the scramble for oil by George Rosie and Cuts by Robert Shure were amongst the first books they published. We are indebted to Jim Hutcheson, experienced artist and designer, for these photos and cover images.
1976 A Magic Book of Birds

A Magic Book of Birds was one of the books published by Canongate in 1976 and no doubt appeared in their catalogue for that year. We are indebted to Jim Hutcheson, experienced artist and designer, for these cover images.
1977 Men on Ice and Canongate catalogue

1977 saw the publication of Men on Ice by Andrew Greig (Canongate). We are indebted to Jim Hutcheson, experienced artist and designer, for these book and catalogue images.
1981 Alasdair Gray's Lanark

1981 saw the publication of one of the landmarks of 20th century fiction - Lanark: A Life in Four Books by Alasdair Gray. It was published by Canongate and the pictures here are of a handwritten note to designer Jim Hutcheson and the designer's copy of the first edition. We are indebted to Jim Hutcheson for these images.
1987 gathering of authors

Authors attending a book marketing event in 1987. From left: Alison Fell (The Bad Box – Virago); Iain Banks (The Bridge – Macmillan); Naomi Mitchison (Memoirs of a Spacewoman - The Women’s Press); Joseph Mackenzie (Pages of Experience – Polygon); Magda Sweetland (The Connoisseur – Pan Books); and Agnes Owens (Like Birds in the Wilderness – Fourth Estate).
2007 sees creation of Publishing Scotland

In 2007 the Scottish Publishers Association was reorganised to create Publishing Scotland reflecting how the SPA’s work had grown beyond that of a trade association. Lorraine Fannin (Chief Executive 1987 to 2008) and Liz Small (Members Services Manager 2002 to 2008) are pictured with banners depicting the new logo and member benefits. Publishing Scotland welcomed a new category of members - network members. Amongst the first to join were Kate Blackadder, Pat Baxter, Gillian Cloke, Jenny Brown Associates and Project One Publishing - all of whom are still members in 2014.
2008 Bright Red and Witherby

2008 was a particularly good year for setting up publishing companies. Both Bright Red Publishing and the Witherby Publishing Group were established in 2008 and have gone on to great things. Bright Red Publishing is an award-winning independent educational publisher. Witherby is one of Scotland's biggest and most successful publishers. It specialises in publishing marine training, reference and regulatory materials.
2009 Scottish Parliament showcase

Publishing Scotland held its first 'Showcase of Publishing' at the Scottish Parliament on 9 June 2009. The event was designed to show off the wide range of book publishing and services from the organisation's publisher and network members. From left: Michael Russell MSP (then Minister for Culture); guests browse the showcase of members' books; and bottom the assembly of guests and MSPs.
2014 40th anniversary cake and banner

No anniversary celebration is complete without a cake and here is our 40th anniversary one. Stephanie Wolfe-Murray (a founding member of the SPA) cut the cake encouraged by Trade Liaison Manager Eleanor Logan.
2014 Exhibition panels and gallery

Top: the exhibition panels on display at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh in spring 2014. Bottom: guests viewing the screen gallery of members.
2014 speeches at the 40th anniversary celebration

Top: former Publishing Scotland Chief Executive Lorraine Fannin speaks to guests. Bottom: Current Publishing Scotland Chair Katy Lockwood-Holmes addresses the audience.
2014 Some of the guests at the 40th anniversary celebration

Top: Jim Hutcheson (Birlinn) and Sian Gibson (Canongate). Middle: Aly Barr (Creative Scotland) chats with Lorraine Fannin (former Publishing Scotland Chief Executive) and Alistair McCleery (Edinburgh Napier University). Bottom: freelance editor Mairi Sutherland (middle) with Ann Matheson (left) and Marion Sinclair (Chief Executive of Publishing Scotland).

40th Anniversary Exhibition: 17 May to 7 June

Our 40th Anniversary Exhibition took place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh from Saturday 17 May to Saturday 7 June 2014. We gathered together some pictures that represent publishing in Scotland 1974-2014 as well as some information about the companies and individuals involved. If you didn't manage along, have a look at them in our PDF of the 40th Anniversary Exhibition Panels.

SGPA to Publishing Scotland: 1974 to 2014

The Scottish General Publishers Association was formally launched in 1974 which means that in 2014 Publishing Scotland (its successor by way of the Scottish Publishers Association) is celebrating 40 years of supporting publishers in Scotland.

While we're firmly focused on the present and future, it is a great opportunity to look back on what publishers have achieved and the changes they've gone through. We've been looking through our archives to come up with items that give a flavour of the past 40 years and some of them are showcased here.

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Highlighted events

40 years supporting publishers in Scotland

Founding publishers

1974 Jeffrey Street, Cromarty and Cuts

1976 A Magic Book of Birds

1977 Men on Ice and Canongate catalogue

1981 Alasdair Gray's Lanark

1987 gathering of authors

2007 sees creation of Publishing Scotland

2008 Bright Red and Witherby

2009 Scottish Parliament showcase

2014 40th anniversary cake and banner

2014 Exhibition panels and gallery

2014 speeches at the 40th anniversary celebration

2014 Some of the guests at the 40th anniversary celebration

40th Anniversary Exhibition: 17 May to 7 June

SGPA to Publishing Scotland: 1974 to 2014