Art of writing and the ancient book trade

Oxford University Press released the following account in their Periodica: “The Latin word for book (Liber) originally meant ‘bark’.

Palm leaves were first used as writing material, then the bark of trees, and later, lead and wax. But use of the word wood, probably arises from a misunderstanding. The prevailing material in ancient times was papyrus manufactured from the pith of a plant of that name, which grows in Egypt. The Romans may have supposed that the rind, not the pith was used. Papyrus was manufactured in Egypt (thin strips of pith were laid side by side in two layers, the directions of which were perpendicular, and then glued together) and exported thence in large quantities from the Alexandria period onwards. Under the Empire, raw material was imported into Rome and these made into rolls, upon which books were written.”

According to early records, ‘the true book was written on parchment made from skins’. Jews and Persians in the East used this, not being superseded by papyrus. Yet another book of reference states that ‘the chief materials, on which writings have come down to us, are stone, clay, metal, potsherds, wood, papyrus, leather, parchment, wax tablets, palm leaves and paper.

According to an earlier study, India had produced photographic script on seals, perhaps in the third or fourth century BC. Many discoveries of fourth century coins and rock inscription from caves confirm this aspect.

It is generally known that ‘characteristic Indian material was palm leaf; this usage invariably modified the scripts of Southern India, Orissa, Ceylon and Burma. The Devanagari Sanskrit Book was handwritten on palm leaves with a reed and ink’.

In this connection, I recall a memorable evening when late Prof SK Ramachandra Rao explained how a tree in his compound was the same as that whose bark was being used for writing.

It is interesting and inspiring to read about the lives of some old-time leaders in the book trade. John Dunton was an eccentric bookseller born in May, 1659. His father wanted him to join the church. However, when he was about 15, he worked as an apprentice with Thomas Parkhurst, a bookseller.

Later, he entered the trade full-time. In order to avoid heavy rent, he ‘took only half a shop, a warehouse and a fashionable chamber’. Establishing facilities for printing was topmost on his mind, but his early experience was very disappointing for him.

Several pseudo authors would pester him to print their works, even though they had never been able to understand a single page of Saint Cyprian and could not tell you whether the Fathers lived before or after Christ. And as per their honesty — it is remarkable, indeed — they would either persuade you to go upon another man’s copy to steal his thought or to abridge their book, which should have got them bread for a lifetime. When you have engaged them for some project, they would write you 3-4 sheets, perhaps, take three or four Pounds upon an urgent occasion and you shall never hear of them again.

It was only after the printing of a manuscript of Rev Thomas Doolittle’s The Sufferings of Christ, that his shop was filled with all sorts of books saleable at that time. He also got acquainted with several leaders in the trade like Wells and Benson, among others. The book trade saw many such highs and lows, all adding to the vast repertoire in the world of book publishing.