Vinycomb Press was initially formed in 2023 to publish The Voyage of The Aegre – From Scotland to the South Seas in a Shetland boat, by Nicholas Grainger.
It has three core volunteer members:
- David Burnett, retired Gollancz publisher. Tireless and with the wisdom and network stemming from a lifetime career in publishing. Co-Principal of Left Field Editions. Based in Ludlow, UK.
- Dr Gene Carl Feldman: Editorial adviser and designer, NASA oceanographer, small boat sailor and kayaker, with a curious link to The Aegre, explained in the book. Lives near Washington, DC.
- Dr Nicholas Grainger, author of The Aegre story, writer, adventurer, retired academic and corporate manager, based in Melbourne, Australia.
All living distantly from each other, the team works together online.
Following the successful publication of The Aegre story it was decided to republish a facsimile edition of Joyful Pilgrimage – In the wake of St Columba.
This is the story of the 1963 re-enactment of the sea voyage made by St. Columba in the 6th Century from Derry, N Ireland to Iona in the Hebrides aboard a 30ft traditional curragh.
It was written by John Barry, the uncle and adventuring inspiration to Nicholas Grainger. The book has been out of print for over 60 years. For more on this fascinating story see https://nicholasgrainger.com.au/the-curragh-voyage-1963/
Joyful Pilgrimage will be available from selected bookshops in the UK from late October 2025, and from Amazon.
The Voyage of The Aegre – From Scotland to the South Seas by Nicholas Grainger was published by Vinycomb Press, Melbourne, Australia, in association with Left Field Editions, Ludlow, UK, in 2023.
For more about The Voyage of The Aegre see https://nicholasgrainger.com.au/
To publish The Aegre book the following assisted the core members of Vinycomb Press
- Dr Digby James, Book designer and page maker. Based in Oswestry, UK.
- Sandra Bell, Editorial and Marketing adviser, based in UK.
- Shane Hammon, Graphics and design professional, based in Victoria, Australia.
- The book was edited by Chris Newton, based in Gloucestershire.
- The book was printed by Gutenberg Press in Malta.
- Distribution of the book in the UK is by Central Books and book wholesaler Gardners. In the rest of the world the books is distributed by IngramSpark and also available through Amazon.
- ISBN 978-0-6457639-0-4 Paperback edition
- E-ISBN 978-0-6457639-1-1 Digital edition
- ISBN 978-0-6457639-3-5 Audiobook
- Vinycomb Press can be contacted at PO Box 2440, North Brighton, Victoria 3186, Australia.
- info@vinycombpress.com
And the name? It’s in honour of John Vinycomb, an engraver, illuminator, and heraldic designer, born in 1833. He published books such as ‘On the process for the production of ex-libris (book plates) (1894).
John Vinycomb was Nicholas Grainger’s great-grandfather.
Here is a piece of his work, a Christmas card:
He lived near Belfast for much of his life and was recognised as a talented artist. You can read something of his life here.
John Vinycomb at his desk. Nicholas has this photo on the wall beside him as he writes.
