Book Review / Rave | Black On White And Read All Over | The Story Of Printing

While researching into typography for my final year project, I came across the book "black on white and read all over : the story of printing" by Albert Barker. 

I am absolutely in love with this book, the books goes through printing / typography history starting back in 105 AD. Topics that the book talks about include: printing in China, Johann Gutenberg, printing in England plus other European countries, printing in America, lithography, and the printing revolution.

Blurb from the book:

"Printing was first discovered by the Chinese 2000 years ago, but it was Johann Gutenberg's invention of movable type in the fifteenth century that marked the beginning of many developments in printing processes, standard sizes and styles of type, new inks, and inexpensive paper that have made possible the printing industry as we know it today. Caslon, Senefelder, Mergenthaler, and Rubel are amongst the many men responsible for this rapid development, so essential to the communication of knowledge and ideas in our modern civilisation."

The book is illustrated, to help explain the story of printing better. And there are also some photographs from modern day printing. And at the back there is a glossary as well as a chapter about how the book was made! Which concludes the book nicely.

The book is written in a lovely way, it is so easily to follow, and you don't get bored reading it. It definitely kept me engaged, and I have no idea why other than the way it is written.   

I have searched for this book online, and unfortunately it is no longer in print, so the only way to buy this book is to buy a second hand one. I would suggest keeping a look out on eBay. I did find these websites:
http://www.betterworldbooks.com/
http://www.addall.com/
http://www.abaa.org/
http://www.biblio.com/
http://www.abebooks.com/

For you to find the book here is some information Title: Black on white and read all over : The story of printing. Author: Albert Barker. And from what I can make out the publishing year was 1971.

I honestly think all typography lovers will adore this book, even if it will be second hand. I think it will make a thoughtful gift.