history of publishing

Introduction
General considerations
Book publishing
- The origins of books
  - Books on clay tablets
  - The Egyptian papyrus roll
  - Chinese books
- Books in classical antiquity
  - Greek books
  - Roman books
- Books in the early Christian era
  - The codex
  - Vellum and parchment
  - Christianity and the book
- The medieval book
  - The monasteries
  - The revival of the secular book trade
  - Humanistic and vernacular books
- The age of early printing: 1450–1550
  - Early printer-publishers in Germany
  - Italy
  - France
  - Other continental printers
  - England
  - Printed illustrations
  - The book trade
  - Controls over printing
- The flourishing book trade: 1550–1800
  - Advances in continental Europe
    - The Netherlands
    - France
    - Germany
  - England
  - America
  - Spread of education and literacy
  - Growth of libraries
  - Decline of censorship
- Modern publishing: from the 19th century to the present
  - The 19th century
    - Book piracy
    - Price regulation
    - Trade catalogs
    - Development of copyright law
  - The early 20th century
    - The first literary agents
    - Sales methods
    - Effects of World War I
    - The book club
    - Design standards
    - The Great Depression
  - World War II and the postwar period
    - The postwar period
    - The paperback revolution
    - University and government presses
- Modern publishing practice
  - Educational publishing
  - Forms of copyright
  - Publisher’s agreement
  - Literary agents and scouts
  - Selling and promotion
Newspaper publishing
- Origins and early evidences
  - The Roman Empire
  - China
  - Medieval Europe
- The first newspapers
  - Commercial newsletters in continental Europe
  - Early newspapers in Britain and America
    - Britain
    - North America
  - Early newspapers in Japan
- Era of the Industrial Revolution
  - Technological advances
  - Foundations of modern journalism
  - Growth of the newspaper business in the English-speaking world
    - The United States
    - Great Britain
  - Continental Europe and other countries
- Era of the popular press
  - The United States
  - Great Britain
- The modern era
  - Technological developments
  - Financial developments
  - Maturation of newspaper markets
    - The emergence of national newspapers
    - Advertising
    - Contemporary challenges
  - The role of the press
Magazine publishing
- Beginnings in the 17th century
- Developments in the 18th century
  - Great Britain
  - Continental Europe
  - America
- The 19th century and the start of mass circulation
  - General periodicals
  - Illustrated magazines
  - Women’s magazines
  - Literary and scientific magazines
  - Scholarly journals
- The 20th century
  - The advertising revolution in popular magazines
    - Magazine advertising economics
    - Women’s magazines in the United States
    - Advertising in Britain and Europe
  - Publications outside Europe and the United States
    - Africa
    - India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan
    - South America
  - News and photo magazines
    - Time magazine
    - Picture magazines
  - Digests and pocket magazines
    - Reader’s Digest magazine
    - Types of pocket magazines
  - Specialized magazines
    - Professional types
    - Nonprofessional types
  - Scholarly, cultural, and literary magazines
    - Britain
    - The United States
    - Continental Europe

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Gutenberg Bible

Painting of a person with a headscarf reading a newspaper, with blue and white text overlaid reading: How the middle class learned to read.

At a Glance

Gutenberg Bible

publishing summary

Gutenberg Bible — Gutenberg Bible The Gutenberg 42-line Bible, printed in Mainz, Germany, in 1455.

history of publishing

Written by

Philip Soundy UnwinAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

history of publishing, an account of the selection, preparation, and marketing of printed matter from its origins in ancient times to the present. The activity has grown from small beginnings into a vast and complex industry responsible for the dissemination of all manner of cultural material; its impact upon civilization is impossible to calculate. This article treats the history and development of book, newspaper, and magazine publishing in its technical and commercial aspects. The preparation...

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