The history of printing
From paper, traditionally linked to China in the early 2nd century, to Gutenberg's movable type and the Moscow Apostol of 1564.
Articles
Articles
This section brings together the topics that make up the guide, along with a catalogue of standalone articles. Each topic sheds light on one side of the book craft: its history, its materials, the structure of a volume or the work of the people who make it.
A book is more than text. It is also paper, glue, thread, ink and a host of decisions made long before you opened the first page.
How this section works: a topic is included if it can be explained using any book on your shelf, without reference to particular shops, publishers or editions.
Topics of the guide
Six threads around which our material is built.
Anatomy of a book
Cover and binding, spine, edges, endpapers, title page, running heads: what the parts of a volume are called and why each one is needed.
Paper
How sheets differ to the touch and against the light, why one paper yellows faster than another, and how weight changes a book's thickness and heft.
Type and layout
How the design of letters, their size and the space between lines make a text easy on the eye or, on the contrary, tiring.
Illustration
Woodcut, engraving on metal, lithography and other ways of putting an image on the page: the techniques and the traces they leave, in general terms.
Book professions
Author, editor, proofreader, illustrator, typesetter and print technologist: who is responsible for what on the way from manuscript to finished print run.
Who makes a book (in Russian)
Article catalogue for English-language readers
This is where the guide's standalone articles will be collected, written specifically for the English version of the site.
- Aion 2 PvP: What New Players Should Know
A newcomer's guide to Aion 2 PvP: arenas, realm-vs-realm battles and the Abyss, how combat works, playing by the rules and keeping your account safe.
- GTA 6 Player Assistance and Boosting Options: Player FAQ
A player FAQ on GTA 6 help: what Rockstar has confirmed, what is still speculation, how guides, coaching and boosting differ, and what to check first.
- Borderlands 4: Bosses — Progression Road Map
A Borderlands 4 boss road map in FAQ and checklist form: readiness, skill trees, gear rarity, co-op, and what to weigh before turning to outside services.
- A closer look at Marvel Rivals battle pass progression: Consumer Decision-Making
How to decide whether a Marvel Rivals battle pass suits you: questions to ask, realistic player scenarios, and what to know about boosting and the rules.
What we are working on
- What endpapers do, and what happens to a book without them
- How the printing press changed the way books looked
- Reading a book's edges: what gilt, stained and rough edges tell you
- Running heads: small lines that help you find your way
- Woodcut, engraving or lithograph? Telling old illustrations apart
- How to read the copyright page of a book
Editorial rules
- Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
- Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
- We do not sell books or publish advertising for shops or publishers, rankings, prices or reviews.
Read next
- Collections
Routes through the guide: by craft, by history, and a short path for a first introduction.
- Close reading
A step-by-step way to examine the design of an edition, plus a table of a book's main elements.
- Archive
A table of contents for every section of the guide and an explanation of the domain's old addresses.
Sources
- Reference works on the history of the book and of printing
- International standard ISO 2108 (ISBN)
Historical information is based on reference literature on the history of the book and of printing. Details of exhibitions, museums and fairs change, so please confirm them with the organisers.