The British Book market 1600-1800, The Industrialization of the Book 1800-1970 Alexandra Bacallao

The British Book market 1600-1800

•  During the 18^th century, being an author became an economically viable activity because of the major expansion that took place in the books, newspapers and magazine markets. This expansion is due to the growth in population and the increase in wealth in society.
•  London was considered to be the significant center of book production in England throughout the 17^th and 18^th centuries. London was also considered to be the center of intellectual and literary culture.
•  In 1661, bookseller Francis Kirkman created the first experimental library system in London. Customers were allowed to borrow the books for a limited period of time for a fee, which proved to be a profitable sideline for many booksellers.

The Industrialization of the Book 1800-1970

•           Stereotyping used cast-metal printing plates that had a mold that was taken from a form of type. This allowed for the type to be used over and over again without suffering the wear and tear, which lead to the cutting down on extra stock of type.
•         Lithography allowed for any mark that could be made on the stone covered in grease and water could be printed which was preferable for printing tables, diagrams, music, equations, and maps
•        Paperbacks were first introduced in 1870s, but weren’t popular until the 10^th century when Penguin books was founded in 1935. The production of the paperback book allowed for mass printing at a cheaper cost.

Comments: I thought it was interesting how the roles in printing books changed over time. Both readings mention how as time progressed, roles like the printer, publisher, and seller went from being done by one person or company to multiple people and companies.

Question: What was the common assumption about ownership of literary rights before the British Copyright Act of 1710? What happened after the Act was passed?