Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book from an ordered stack of paper sheets that are folded together into sections or sometimes left as a stack of individual sheets. The development of bookbinding played a crucial role in the origin of book publishing as it allowed for the preservation and protection of printed materials, making them more durable and long-lasting.
The earliest forms of bookbinding can be traced back to ancient Egypt where papyrus scrolls were used to record text. These scrolls were made by gluing together layers of papyrus and then rolling them up for storage.
The development of parchment and vellum in the Middle Ages led to the creation of codex, or book form. These early books were bound by sewing together folded sheets of parchment or vellum and attaching them to wooden or leather covers. The covers were then decorated with intricate designs and gold leaf.
The invention of the printing press in the 15th century led to a significant increase in the production of books. As a result, bookbinding techniques had to be developed to keep up with the demand for books. The development of case binding, where a book's pages are glued to its cover, became a popular method of binding books.
In the 19th century, the use of industrial machinery to produce books led to the creation of perfect binding, a method where the book's pages are glued to the spine of the cover. This method allowed for the mass production of books and made them more affordable for a wider audience.
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