Introduction
Hedge Sparrow Press is an association based in the market town of Oswestry in North Shropshire, dedicated to fine print making and book production using traditional methods and materials.
Hedge Sparrow Press was started by George Miller, bookbinder and printer, in 2002, and joined by Bob Guy, artist and printmaker, in 2003. Jessie Miller joined after finishing her degree course in English at the University of Sussex in July 2005. Alan May, formerly lecturer in typography and graphic design at the University of Reading, is an adviser.
The press aims to bring together the work of authors and artists, printing short, illustrated, original works of humour, satire, and poetry. In particular, it seeks to encourage talent that may not otherwise find an outlet, with a local emphasis.
Our first publication was ‘Message in a Space Bottle’ by George Miller, with wood engravings by Bob Guy. Produced in a limited edition of 60 copies the title is now out of print but sets of prints of the engravings are still available for purchase. Please email us for further details.
‘The Pride of Mankind’ (2006)
Hedge Sparrow Press is currently publishing an edition of 300 copies of ‘The Pride of Mankind’ edited and with an introduction by Dr. John M L Drew of the University of Buckingham. 
This is a sequence of ‘puff’ verses advertising Warren’s Boot Blacking, originally printed in a newspaper in 1832. Particular interest attaches to these, as at least one of the verses has been identified by Dr. Drew as by Charles Dickens, and is his first known appearance in print.
“at last, a private press book with an interesting text and some scholarship to go with it...”
Eric Stevens - Dealer in rare and out of print books on English literature, London, UK
Find out more about this book, read about Charles Dickens and the story behind the poems, or order a copy of ‘The Pride of Mankind’.