A voluntary association established in 1965 by Geoff Spencer, the Alcuin Society is a non-profit organisation founded for the book arts. It is located in Canada. It should not be confused with the Alcuin Club, an Anglican publishing society. Among the other six founding members were Basil Stuart-Stubbs,[1] Sam Black and Bill Duthie (founder of Duthie Books). The society is named after Alcuin of York.[2]
Since 1981, the society has awarded an Annual Award for Excellence in Book Design in Canada.[3] [2] It is Canada's only national book design competition. In 2007, the society started awarding the Robert R. Reid Award and Medal for lifetime achievement or extraordinary contributions to the book arts in Canada.[4]
The University of Saskatchewan Archives and Special Collections displayed books which had been distinguised with awards by the Alcuin Society.[5]
In 2007 the Alcuin Society inaugurated the annual Robert R. Reid Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Book Arts in Canada, and named Read as the first recipient.[6] The full list of winners is given on the Alcuin Society website.[7]
| Escutcheon: | Per chevron Azure and Argent in chief two open books Argent edged Or and in base a handpress Azure. |
| Crest: | Issuant from a circlet of maple leaves Or and dogwood flowers Argent a demi-sixteenth-century pressman affronty Proper habited Azure holding in the dexter hand a composing stick and in the sinister hand a punch Or. |
| Notes: | Granted 15 June 2007.[11] |
| Motto: | Boni Libri Bene Confecti |
| Supporters: | Two owls Or each gorged with a collar Azure pendent therefrom a hurt that to the dexter charged with a quill and a knife in saltire Or that to the sinister charged with a rose Argent standing on a rocky mound Proper above barry wavy Azure and Argent. |