The history of the book is more than that of an artifact that has accompanied man for centuries. These rectangles full of leaves are not a simple object, they are ideas and therefore, since writing began, it could be said that the history of the book began with it. It goes back to the marks on the walls, the Alexandrian scrolls, the unique books, and finally Gutenberg’s invention of the mobile printing press. We could say that books have shaped the history of humanity.
Although today it is a process that many may see as somewhat tedious due to industrialization or as something secret that is hidden behind the walls of large factories, there are those who still retain their love for the original piece and create their own books and notebooks. Yes, the text is the most important thing, but the space in which it falls can be a whole work of art.
Even the blank pages before and after the text can become extremely valuable. Pages in which you can find beautiful calligraphy that stands out from the rest of the book, dedications and even personal poems by some of the greatest writers have been found in rare books, as revealed by Teresa Morales in a great article for El País.
We may not change the publishing world, but small actions can bring big results. Motivating someone to write by giving her a unique gift can change her life and it can also become your chance to relax and find a hidden passion. Creating a book from scratch will make you appreciate every physical text that exists and it can be as simple or complex as you want.
This is how you can make your own notebook:
Here is a much simpler example:
Finally, enjoy seeing how books used to be created hundreds of years ago.
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