Books Before Typography A Primer of Information About the Invention of the Alphabet and the History of Book-Making up to the Invention of Movable Types Typographic Technical Series for Apprentices #49

This compact guide walks listeners through humanity’s first attempts to capture thoughts beyond the spoken word. From the charcoal sketches on Paleolithic walls to the chipped pebbles of Mas d’Azil, it details how early peoples turned stone, bone, and shell into symbols that later became letters. The narrative also explores diverse recording tricks such as the Peruvian quipu, Ogham line marks, and wampum strings, showing how visual and tactile cues laid the groundwork for a written record.

Turning to the birth of the codex, the book explains how scrolls, tablets, and early parchment were fashioned, bound, and shared long before any press existed. It highlights the practical challenges of material preparation, storage, and distribution that spurred the eventual leap to movable‑type printing. Designed for apprentices, the primer offers clear explanations and a short list of further sources for anyone eager to understand the roots of modern publishing.