During the Renaissance books were very precious objects because of their content and form. The first book covers were decorated with gold and gems or materials such as leather or silk. Till the end of the 15th century books were binded for their protection. They were closed with leather or metal clasps, which later went out of fashion. That was one step closer towards the books we know today – usually smaller and easier to carry. Later in 1820s with the introduction of new machinery mechanical book binding changed the way the books were covered and materials were swapped to less expensive ones. That’s when the meaning of a book cover began to shift – it wasn’t only protecting it but also advertising its content. After the II World War book industry became more competitive, the covers we’re used to express the style and genre of the authors work and helped with attracting more sales. Book covers are with us till this day and play an important part in the history.
Sources:
https://www.grapheine.com/en/history-of-graphic-design/history-of-book-covers-1
https://buzbooks.com/the-history-and-evolution-of-the-book-cover/
And when did the proverb "Don't judge a book by its cover" originate?
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