World book heritage. 01: Outline

World Book heritage Some thoughts on the history of the written word in Devon and the wider world from speech through script to print and hypertext

The World	Devon and Exeter
W-10 The manuscript book W-11 Language W-12 Writing W-13 Materials and formats W-14 The ancient book W-15 The medieval manuscript W-15a The Mátyás Corvinus Library W-16 Bookbinding W-17 Paper W-18 Printing in Asia W-19 Birth of western printing	D-10. Some early riddles (-1500) D-11. Early evidence of literacy. D-12. Saxon Devon. D-13. Exeter Cathedral Library. D-14. Libraries on the eve of the Reformation. D-15. Medieval Devon scholars. D-15a. Some medieval Devon private libraries. D-16. Education and literacy in medieval Devon.
W-20 The first century of printing, 1450-1550. W-20 Gutenberg W-21 Germany W-22 Italy W-23 France W-24 Spain and Portugal W-25 Scandinavia W-26 Eastern Europe W-27 Netherlands W-28 Britain 1476-1557 W-28a Provincial printing in Britain 1478-1557 W-29 Aspects of early print culture	D-20. From script to print (1500-1700) D-21. The earliest printing in Devon. D-22. The book trade in the early period of printing. D-23. The Reformation in Devon. D-24. The establishment of the Exeter book trade. D-25. Books and readers in the 17th century. D-26. Printing in 17th century Exeter. D-27. Disruption and recovery. D-28. The structure of the 17th century book trade in Exeter.
W-30 The period of hand printing 1550-1800 W-31 Germany W-32 Italy W-33 France W-34 Spain W-35 Netherlands 1550-1800 W-36 Scandinavia, Iceland, Eastern Europe W-37 Britain 1550-1700 W-38 Britain 1700-1800 W-39 Aspects of print culture W-39a Press control, Stationers' Company W-39b Newspapers and periodicals	4. The provincial press (1700-1790) D-31. The provincial press and the origins of the local newspaper. D-32. A good face of learning. D-33. Controversies in print. D-34. Jobbing work and advertisements. D-35. The market for books in the 18th century. D-36. Libraries and readers. D-37. The spread of printing. D-38. Popular literature in the eighteenth century. D-39. Spreading the word: postboys, hawkers and billposters.
W-40 Making hand printed book W-41 Preparation W-42 Casting off W-43 Typefounding W-44 Composition W-45 Imposition W-46 Paper W-47 Presswork W-48 Proofs W-49 Binding, warehousing and distribution	D-40. Revolution and evolution (1790-1850) D-41. The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. D-42. Tourism and topographical views. D-43. Some Exeter businesses of the early 19th century. D-44. The newspaper in the age of reform. D-45. The move to self-improvement. D-46. Couchers and layers: the paper industry in mid nineteenth century Exeter. D-47. Some scholars in the book trades. D-48. Libraries in the early 19th century .
W-50 The mechanised book 1800-2000 W-51 British Isles 1800-1890 W-52 British Isles 1890-2000 W-53 Europe W-54 America W-55 Australia W-56 Asia W-57 Africa	D-50. The growth of mechanisation (1850-1940) D-51. The printer's repertoire. D-52. The spread of the newspaper. D-53. The development of scholarly publishing. D-54. Booksellers in a time of change. D-55. The public library.
W-60 The world of the book W-61 Community of readers W-62 Popular literature W-63 Children's literature W-64 Illustrated books W-65 Newspapers and periodicals W-66 Libraries W-67 Printers and publishers W-68 Book design	D-60. Past to present D-61. Survivors and failures. D-62. Booksellers since World War 2. D-63. Antiquarian booksellers in post-war Exeter. D-64. Libraries since World War 2. D-65. Publishers and grey literature. D-66. The newspaper since 1945. D-67. The alternative press in Devon.
W-70 The digital book W-71 Internet	D-70 From print to hypertext D-81. The death of the book?
W-80 Bibliography W-81 History of bibliography W-82 Analytical bibliography W-83 The transmission of text W-84 The evidence of paper W-85 The evidence of text W-86 The evidence of presswork W-87 Descriptive bibliography W-88 Fakes and forgeries	D-80 Stewardship D-81 Devon's printed heritage : an historical bibliography D-82 A history of bibliographyin Devon D-83 Bibliography : its importance for Devon D-84 Stewardship
W-90 References and bibliography	D-90. Devon references and bibliography.

This set of papers derives from series of talks, articles and other papers given over the years during my life as a local studies librarian and as a historian of the book. They are being brought together to provide a survey of the spread of the written word over the past five millennia. Because of their origin they are not scholarly articles and are not referenced, nor have they been fully updated, but it has been possible to include internet links in a way that was not available when I started half a century ago. Many of the illustrations were gathered in the 1970s for a series of lectures to students working for the Library Association examinations and their immediate source is not now easy to trace. While the scope is international, coverage becomes less intensive the further one travels from Exeter, Devon and London. I will struggle to keep abreast of developments in the later sections and volunteer contributors are welcome.

Ian Maxted
In lockdown, August 2020

---

This page last updated 24 October 2020