Genadendal Printing Museum
Get a key for the printing history museum from the tourist info office across the road from the church.
In 1914, the Moravian, Berlin, and Lutheran Churches in South Africa decided to join hands in 1814 to publish a joint newspaper called “Die Huisvried”.This was not the first publication of its kind from the Genadendal Press. The Printing and Publishing history at Genadendal can be traced back to 1837. The first press was an old wooden Gutenberg Press which H. P. Hallbeck who is considered to be the father of Genadendal printing obtained from Holland. Sadly he died shortly afterward at the age of 48. The first experimental work to be printed on the press though, was a school timetable and the first infant schoolbook in South Africa. The press was housed in the college. In 1859 it was rediscovered by Benno Marx who learned to operate the press. It was decided that a monthly publication would be printed, called “De Bode” The missionary Rev. B. Marx was the editor. Printing and bookbinding became an integral part of the Genadendal Training College curriculum. In 1861 the press printed the first Children’s magazine in South Africa. The magazine gained hundreds of subscribers. Other publications included schoolbooks and a children’s board game. In 1863 the wooden press was replaced by a Columbian press that had various fonts. Genadendal Printing Works was the only press in South Africa that could print musical notation. In 1884 a new Bremner press was bought. In 1960 the presses became electrified and the presses were replaced with modern machines.
By 1985 publishers were able to do typesetting and graphic design on their in-house computers. However, the Genadendal printing works continued with hand compositing and letterpress printing. In 2003, the Heidelberg presses were moved to Cape Town The original printing house is currently home to The Printing History Museum which was opened in 2004.
Watch a short story of printing in genadendal
