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The Golden Book: The Story of Fine Books and Bookmaking--Past & Present
Hardcover
Business of WritingGeneral Antiques & CollectiblesTypography & Calligraphy
ISBN13: 9781025684635
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 448
Weight: 1.76
Height: 1.00 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Golden Book: The Story of Fine Books and Bookmaking--Past & Present is a comprehensive exploration of the artistry and technical evolution of the written word. Authored by the renowned typographer and historian Douglas C. McMurtrie, this work traces the fascinating journey of book production from the dawn of recorded history to the sophisticated craft of the early twentieth century.
McMurtrie delves into the origins of writing systems, the development of the alphabet, and the transformation of hand-copied manuscripts into the printed volumes that defined the Renaissance. Readers are introduced to the pivotal innovations of Johannes Gutenberg and the subsequent legacy of master printers who elevated bookmaking to a fine art. The text examines every facet of the craft, including typography, illustration, paper-making, and binding, highlighting how aesthetic beauty has intersected with industrial progress over the centuries.
This scholarly yet accessible volume serves as both a history of human communication and a tribute to the book beautiful. It remains an essential resource for bibliophiles, historians, and designers interested in the enduring cultural significance of fine books and the meticulous labor behind their creation.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
1 different editions
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