Pictured above are the amazing things that make our books... well, books. It was not until very recently I even realized just how much effort has gone into producing these objects we so often take for granted. The world, as a whole, went from relying on handwritten messages and stories, to needing a way to mass produce the information contained in these writings. To gain an understanding and appreciation of the book, however, we must take a look at the history of printing.
At some point in every high school history class, the name Gutenberg was mentioned, as well as his famous printing press. Every time I heard this name, I had an automatic reaction of "name, definition, never have to hear about him again." How wrong was I?
Gutenberg was the first European to use movable type printing, which allowed for the mass production of printed materials. This invention is believed to have fostered the Reformation by making the mass communication of ideas a reality. Here is a demonstration of how the press would have been used. The most well-known item to be printed on this press was the 42-line Gutenberg Bible (pictured below). This webpage includes some interesting information regarding books both before and after Gutenberg's press.
At some point in every high school history class, the name Gutenberg was mentioned, as well as his famous printing press. Every time I heard this name, I had an automatic reaction of "name, definition, never have to hear about him again." How wrong was I?
Gutenberg was the first European to use movable type printing, which allowed for the mass production of printed materials. This invention is believed to have fostered the Reformation by making the mass communication of ideas a reality. Here is a demonstration of how the press would have been used. The most well-known item to be printed on this press was the 42-line Gutenberg Bible (pictured below). This webpage includes some interesting information regarding books both before and after Gutenberg's press.
While Gutenberg's press paved the way for modern printing, it obviously did not stop with him. In fact, there is a long timeline of different innovations including the rotary printing press, the iron press, the Linotype machine, and many, many others. Along the way, a press called the Platen came to be. Why is this press important?
Well, my book of study The Great Gatsby was first printed in 1925, and the specific edition I have chosen in 1934. During this time the Platen was popular in letterpress printing, and it is very likely that Gatsby was printed using this. In a Platen press, both surfaces are flat; the one containing the paper and the one containing the inked form. When pressed together, they meet in a jaw-like fashion. Pictured below is a small Chandler and Price Platen press. To better understand the way in which it worked, the analogy of a scanner has been used. The flat glass surface and the flat padded surface attached to the lid give a good example of how the Platen would operate. However, the Platen was slowly replaced by the rotary press due to higher efficiency.
Well, my book of study The Great Gatsby was first printed in 1925, and the specific edition I have chosen in 1934. During this time the Platen was popular in letterpress printing, and it is very likely that Gatsby was printed using this. In a Platen press, both surfaces are flat; the one containing the paper and the one containing the inked form. When pressed together, they meet in a jaw-like fashion. Pictured below is a small Chandler and Price Platen press. To better understand the way in which it worked, the analogy of a scanner has been used. The flat glass surface and the flat padded surface attached to the lid give a good example of how the Platen would operate. However, the Platen was slowly replaced by the rotary press due to higher efficiency.