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

history of publishing: Media

Videos

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

How the Printing Press Revolutionized Literacy

Johannes Gutenberg developed one of the first printing presses in the mid-1400s.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Images

Gutenberg Bible

Gutenberg Bible

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

Rare Books and Manuscripts Division, The New York Public Library; Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations

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