Books have been a part of our daily lives since ancient times. They have been used for telling stories, archiving history, and sharing information about our world. Although the ways that books are made have evolved, whether handwritten, printed on pages, or digitized online, their need remains timeless. Let us dive into the brief history of books…
The Oldest Printed Books in the World
The first actual book written on paper is said to have been made in China. It was created using mulberries, hemp, bark and even fish to form a big pulp, that could be pressed and dried to form paper. Each sheet of paper was roughly the size of a newspaper and called a "leaf".
As the popularity of books increased, the world turned to a more efficient way of making them…
The world’s earliest printed book is the Diamond Sutra and although the exact date it was made is uncertain, it has been thought to have been created between the 2nd and the 5th centuries CE.
The Power of Print
Fast forward to the 15th century and printing
had gone mainstream, all thanks to
the invention of the printing press
in 1439 CE by Johannes Gutenberg.
This mechanical device allowed for the printing
of books, newspapers, and pamphlets to be
brought to the masses.
Modern Binding
By the second half of the 1800s, bookbinding automation really began to progress, and in 1856, David McConnell Smyth invented the first sewing machines designed specifically for bookbinding.
The art of perfect binding (paperback or paper-covered books) was invented in 1895.
The development of glued books said “so long” to sewing as this method was quicker and more affordable.
Love for Books
From scrolls to eBooks, the way we read may have evolved over time but the significance of books in our lives remains timeless.
Some believed that the advent of e-readers would reduce the demand for printed books, but so far, 17 years into the 21st century, this has not been the case. More books are being published today than ever before. It appears that the public still loves the printed word!
Author: Priyanka Bhanushali