![Ramage-Foolscap Ramage Foolscap](https://d1mkprg9bp64fp.cloudfront.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2012/10/Ramage-Foolscap.png)
Briar Press
Ramage Foolscap
The Ramage, a wooden hand press with iron platen, was built in 1820 by Scottish-born Adam Ramage (see Ramage Screw). The tabletop Ramage, at 38″ high, is the smallest of the three sizes of presses built by Ramage: a full-size common press; an intermediate free-standing press which Ramage called his “screw press” (see Ramage Screw); and the foolscap, so named for the size of sheet that it would print. Foolscap presses were sturdier than the larger screw presses and sold for around $65. After Ramage’s death in 1850, the Ramage foolscap presses were made for some years by Ramage’s successor, Frederick Bronstrup. The press shown is missing its tympan and frisket.