The History and Future of the Printing Press
True Origins of the Printing Press Revealed
The invention of the printing press belongs to Johannes Gutenberg, right? Wrong. If you feel like everything you learned in school just went up in flames, don’t worry, it hasn't. We're not trying to remove Gutenberg's role in mass-producing literature. But at Raab & Co., we can't help but fact-check. It's part of our process.
In this article, we'll reveal the little-known truth about the birth of the printing press and how it revolutionized how we communicate. Keep reading to learn about the true origins of book printing.
Johannes Gutenberg. Fact, Fiction & History's Mysteries
Johannes Gutenberg is widely regarded as the inventor of the printing press, and his impact on the world cannot be overstated. The first book he printed en masse was of course, the bible, which is now known as the Gutenberg Bible. By advancing movable type technology and developing a printing method that was far more efficient than the previous woodblock printing, Gutenberg revolutionized the production of books and other printed materials. Before his innovation, books were meticulously hand copied by scribes, a time-consuming and expensive process that made books an inaccessible luxury for many. With the printing press, books could be produced on a large scale quickly and inexpensively, making them more readily available to the masses.
Lucky for the Church, the first mass-produced book was the bible. Similar to the effect of the Beatles airing on Ed Sullivan after the McCarthy Era, a tipping point had been reached at the end of the dark ages in Europe.
Instead of Rock-n-Roll, Europe got the Renaissance.
But let's stop the press for a second and back up. Gutenberg did not invent the printing press from scratch. He was instead one of many inventors who helped along an earlier Roman invention. The Romans used the screw press for many things, wine production included.
But the printing press, as Gutenberg would learn of it, came from an unsung hero in the history of modern book publishing. Bi Sheng.
Bi Sheng was a Chinese innovator who lived during the Song dynasty (960-1279). If you look hard enough, he is often credited with inventing the world’s first moveable type printing technology in 1041. His invention, the first printing press, revolutionized the way books and documents were created, as it allowed for the rapid production of multiple copies of the same text.
Bi Sheng's technology made its way from China to Korea in the 14th century, where surviving Medieval texts account for European missionaries later bringing this technology back to Europe.
From there, Gutenberg's press was crucial to the printing revolution, and his use of metal type and the screw press proved to be the most efficient and effective method. He ultimately stamped out 180 copies of his famous bible at a rate of 250 pages per hour! Understandably, the Gutenburg p
As celebrated as it is, it's worth noting that this printing press invention was not an instant success (much like the internet). Gutenberg faced many financial and technical challenges while popularizing the printed book. He took out a small business loan. Never paid it back. And ran into trouble with Medieval German loan sharks.
At Raab & Co., we'd like to think we play a role in advancing the book printing story. We are proud to continue the legacy of Gutenberg and other pioneers of ink.
We offer a wide range of services and book products, from softcover and hardcover books to custom ebooks, cover design, and more. Our white-glove book experts are dedicated to providing top-notch customer service and helping each of you with your unique print project.
We use advanced print processes and cutting-edge technology to ensure the highest quality results. Whether you're a self publisher looking to print your first book or a busy CEO whose story needs to get told, we have the expertise and curated book services to make your vision a reality.
Movable Type Technology: Up Close & Personal with the Gutenberg Bible
As writers, it's important to remember our roots. You could argue that the speed at which we can write all started with the efficiency found with movable type. Movable type allowed individual letters to be arranged and rearranged on a page rather than having to carve an entire page into a single woodblock. This made it possible to print books quickly and efficiently, signaling the beginning of the printing press era.
Sure, we're used to watching letters appear on a screen, as if by magic. Often with a wireless keyboard. Nowadays, it's easy to take for granted how fast we can produce written works.
Before movable type, the most common method was woodblock , which involved carving an entire page into a single block of wood. Yikes! This process was time-consuming and expensive. Not suitable for larger print runs needed for today's market.
Interestingly, movable type is still used in some printing processes, such as letterpress and rotary press - commonly used with fancy wedding invitations. However, many modern methods, such as digital printing and screen printing, have largely replaced traditional typesetting and letterpress printing. Regardless, the legacy of movable type and its famed "inventor," Johann Gutenberg, lives on as the type heard 'round the world.
Evolution of the Printing Press
As you might have guessed from the tone of this article, we think the printing press is one of the most significant inventions in human history. It has become the bedrock of our industry.
As we touched on earlier, modern book printing was influenced by food technology! The Roman screw press was used for making wine and flour. Bi Sheng made his mark in 1041. Officially, the first recorded print book came out of Korea in the 1300s. From Gutenberg's humble print shop in Germany, hundreds of cities in Europe would have this technology by the end of the 15th century.
The steam-powered rotary press was an American invention (1843) that enabled millions of copies of a page to be produced in a single day. In 1868, the typewriter brought producing power to an incredible generation of writers. The computer came about 100 years later. Then in 1985, Aldus PageMaker (who remembers that?) made desktop publishing a thing. The rest, you could say, is history.
Today, book printing services have been made more accessible through self-publishing platforms such as KDP and IngramSpark. Writers can easily publish their books and reach readers worldwide without having to go through traditional book publishers. Additionally, modern printing technology, such as digital, offset, and screen printing, have made printing even more efficient and affordable.
However, with the rise of the digital age, print services have had to evolve to remain relevant, with services such as canvas printing and photo books being added to keep pace with changing customer needs.
At Raab & Co., we've got exceptional industry experience that delivers excellent customer service and a streamlined production and printing process essential to customer satisfaction.
What's Next? Modern Technology & the Self-Publishing Renaissance
As a high-performance racecar needs to be kept under control, your print book or eBook is kept on track by our expert team of ghostwriters, proofreading experts, designers, and project managers. We pride ourselves on letting our clients be part of the review process from start to finish so that the final product is truly unique.
Raab & Co. is more than just a self-publishing company. We are your team of world-class experts that care as much about your story as you do. Sure, there are other options like BookBaby or Smashwords. But those outfits will smash your baby through a templated process that will produce a book that feels like, well, a mass-produced book.
Contact us today to schedule your complimentary jam session with our founder. He'll be able to share the scope of your project and if needed, work with you to make sure we hit your deadlines for that last-minute speaking engagement on your calendar.
Modern book services have humble beginnings, but one thing's for sure: Modern development and printing services put the power in your hands, and we're thrilled to be a part of that story.
