The Bear device on 1617 book attributed to the Pilgrim Press in Leiden.

An aspect of the early career of Edward Raban explored by the nineteenth and early twentieth century bibliographers is the supposition that Raban had been a printer working in the Pilgrim Press, Koorsteeg, Leiden between 1617 and 1619 prior to moving to Edinburgh in late 1619.
 
However, there is no extant documentary evidence to show that this is true. The proposition is based on observations that Raban, when printing in Scotland, utilised devices, ornaments, typefaces and initials the use of which has been attributed to the Pilgrim Press. Much detailed analysis has cast doubt on these assumptions, and even whether the Pilgrim Press actually existed. 

More decorative version of the Bear device used by Raban

Small version of the Bear device used by Raban.

A particular device associated with Brewster is the so-called ‘Brewster’s Bear’, a version of which was used by Raban.  It has been suggested that Raban removed this device from the Press before it was closed by the Dutch authorities.
  
It has been demonstrated that, as with the type, initials, and devices, the Bear was used quite commonly in Dutch books of the period – for example books bearing the imprint of N van Raverstyn in Amsterdam, Strickius in Utrecht, Johann Sar in Groningen and indeed in Robinson’s Observations of 1625. 

The Bear device in 1587.

​It is highly unlikely that the Bear device was designed and cut solely for Brewster given that a larger woodcut containing the same elements was used in a 1587 edition of Holinshed printed in London by Denham and elsewhere by others in the early seventeenth century. So, like much of Raban’s early career his supposed association with the Pilgrim Press is shrouded in mystery.

With or without snakes?

Raban used two version of the Bear device; one with snakes (left) and one without (right)

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