Blogpost 6

Last little details

What an intriguing and amazing invention! It’s difficult to imagine what the world would be like if inventors like Bi Sheng, Johanna Gutenberg, Ira Rubel, Ottomar Mergenthaler, Laurens Coster, Procopius Waldfoghel and so many more hadn’t achieved what they have. I certainly wouldn’t be sitting here typing this or have been able to read so many fascinating books and online articles on any topic if it wasn’t for the invention of printing in some form. We all have so much to thank these people for, and yet many didn’t get recognition during their life-time.

Through the use of several different devices using printing, I have managed to research the invention of printing quite well and have been surprised by many of the facts that I found. I was also shocked at how many resources are out there making clear statements about things that no one knows for sure happened due to the lack of records at the time. The mere fact that there is no known portrait of Gutenberg as he was never considered to be of any great importance whilst alive and he never had any spare money of his own to pay for one (Fisher 1993, p. 2). Yet many resources show pictures stating it is of Gutenberg, not just a mere likeness of what he probably looked like. This sort of false information could be quite confusing and it’s no wonder that there is no clear cut answer to some of the questions regarding this period. However, I have been careful to back up my findings and verify them in several resources or otherwise state that it’s someone’s interpretation.

Discovery

 Most importantly I have discovered enough information for my report and learnt that although many say that printing is a dying art, we rely on it way too much, in ways most people don’t even consider, for it to die out any time soon, just like libraries. I was also excited to learn that we could soon be printing ourselves a spoon with a 3D printer. (‘3D printing’ 2012)

 

3D Printing

“The selective laser sintering (SLS) process, showing (top) the rolling of a thin layer of powder over the work area, (middle) the sintering of powder by a laser beam to build up the workpiece, and (bottom) the rolling of fresh powder over the workpiece to begin a new layer.” (Encyclopaedia Britannica 2012 (a)) -  http://library.eb.com.au/all/eb/article-9571533?query=3d%20printing&ct=null .

This week I have focused on reading the last of the resources I borrowed, making lists of my discoveries and then trying to verify these using databases, reference material and websites. I have accessed resources from another council library service as I am currently on placement at Malvern library. I have found lots of contradictions as well as loads of interesting facts. The hardest part now is going to be not getting carried away with my report. I also look forward to reading everyone else reports and see how all the topics fit in and interconnect. 

During this process I have really been able to develop my research skills, using more accurate and defining search terms, experiencing good and bad reference interviews, using a variety of different databases, trying the “Ask a librarian” function and receiving both good and bad responses and improving my fact confirmation skills. I’ve learnt a great deal and have a new found respect for printing and blogging.

Cite

‘3D printing’ 2012, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012.

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 2012 (a), ‘3D printing’ [image], Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012 .

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 2012 (b), 'Diamond Sutra : handscroll, 868' [image], Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, viewed 20 October 2012, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/161498/Diamond-Sutra .

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 2012 (c), 'Gutenberg Bible' [image], Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, viewed 20 October 2012, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/249893/Gutenberg-Bible .

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 2012 (e), 'Platen press' [image], Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, viewed 20 October 2012, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/477017/printing/36841/Koenigs-mechanical-press-early-19th-century#ref417296 .

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 2012 (f), 'Printing press : Newspaper printing press' [image], Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, viewed 20 October 2012, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/477067/printing-press  .

Fisher, L. E. 1993, Gutenberg, Maxwell MacMillian International, US.

‘Fust, Johann’ 2012, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012.

‘Gutenberg bible’ 2012, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012.

‘Gutenberg, Johannes’ 2012 (a), Britannica junior Encyclopaedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012.

‘Gutenberg, Johannes’ 2012 (b), Britannica student Encyclopaedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012.

Griffiths, A 1996, Prints and print making : an introduction to the history and techniques, British museum press, London.

Lamparter, B 2012, ‘What will it take for digital printing to succeed’, Seybold report : Analyzing publishing technologies, vol. 12, no. 15, pp. 2-6, MasterFILE premier, EBSCOhost, viewed20 October 2012.

Lowes, G 2012, How in-house printing drives efficiencies for SMEs, BusinessWings.co.uk, viewed 20 October 2012, http://www.businesswings.co.uk/articles/In-house-printing-more-cost-effective  .

‘Modern printing practices’ 2012 (b), Britannica student Encyclopaedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012. 

Morrison, B 2000, The justification of Johann Gutenberg : a novel, Morrow, New York.

Pettegree, A 2010, The book in the renaissance, Yale university press, US.

‘Printing’ 2012 (a), Britannica junior Encyclopaedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012.

‘Printing’ 2012 (b), Britannica student Encyclopaedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012. 

‘Printing’ 2012 (c), Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012. 

‘Printing press’ 2012 (a), Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012. 

‘Project Gutenberg’ 2012, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica online library edition, viewed 20 October 2012.

Wong, A. K. 2001, Resolution enhancement techniques in optical lithography, Spie press, EBook.

Blogpost 5

Starting to get somewhere

With the holiday break, replies from the “Ask a librarian” e-mails, having a more successful reference interview, searching the public library databases  and having all my reserves picked up I have been able to make a great deal of progress. I’m a bit disappointed that the reference interviews and e-mails didn’t really reveal anything new (although I suppose this means I’m researching well) but I did receive the required codes to use the full databases. After reading through/watching my resources I used the information to research, on the net, more deeply or in other areas which has been lots of fun. In fact I feel confident in my research skills and am starting to feel like I know this topic rather well and feel quite sorry for some of the people involved. I am pleased I chose printing as it is so fascinating and touches on other topics at the same time.

I think I’ve actually come to a conclusion regarding the Bi Sheng vs. Johanna Gutenberg debate. I’ve found out quite a bit about these men, the eras, how ideas travelled etc and found that they aren’t the only two men claimed to be the first to ‘write artificially’. (Pollard 1992, p. 13-14) But I’ll wait until I’ve completed my research to make sure and leave all the details for the report. The main point is that my research and persistence have paid off and lead me towards an answer.

Gutenberg's press

 

Image of what Gutenberg's press is believed to have looked like. (Dunnington, T 2012)

 

Spread of printing

My research into the speed at which the knowledge of printing spread once it was successful has been intriguing. Life was so different in these times and things took so much longer to do than today. However, considering what an advance printing was, it took over rather quickly for that day and age going “from 0 books to 20,000,000 in just 50 years”. (Stephen Fry & the Gutenberg press 2011) I’ve also been quite surprised to find how little the techniques of printing have changed since its invention, especially considering how important a discovery it is. (Tames 2006, p.5) The more modern aspects and changes of printing have been a lot easier to get accurate information on, as better records have been kept since the development of printing, and more modern information is more freely available on the net. As for the “Where would we be now without the invention of printing” question, it is all speculation. However I have found some interesting thoughts.   

 

What is Offset Printing?

 

A look at some large, modern computerised printing equipment in use with a description of how the printing process works. “An explanation of the Offset Printing process including footage from one of the nations largest Offset Printing companies.” (Offsetprintinga2 2011) – 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDfUtk81aP8

 

What's next?

This now covers all my search areas except for the question of “Does the art of printing have a future in the modern world” which I actually have read a little about but plan to research more in week 6 along with more detailed information on the areas I have already researched. I am feeling quite confident though that I have the information required to deliver my final report on printing and how it’s changed the way we live.

Cite

‘Block printing’ 2012, World book, World book online info finder, viewed 4 October 2012.

‘Book’ 2012, World book, World book online info finder, viewed 4 October 2012.

Childress, D 2012, ‘The movement spreads’, Calliope, May/June 2012, vol. 22, no. 8, pp. 15-19, MasterFILE premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 10 October 2012.

Dunnington, T 2012, ‘Gutenberg’s press’ [image], World book online info finder, viewed 4 October 2012.

‘Gutenberg, Johannes’ 2012 (c), World book, World book online info finder, viewed 4 October 2012.

Heller, S 2008, Illustration : a visual history, Harry N. Abrams, USA.

Johl, M. G. 2008, ‘Yesterday in the stamp specialist : the development of rotary press printing’, Mekeel’s and stamps magazine, September 26 2008, pp.23-27, viewed 10 October 2012.

‘Linotype’ 2012, World book, World book online info finder, viewed 4 October 2012.

‘Lithography’ 2012, World book, World book online info finder, viewed 4 October 2012.

‘Offset’ 2012, World book, World book online info finder, viewed 4 October 2012.

Offsetprintinga2 2011, What is Offset Printing?, viewed 4 October 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDfUtk81aP8 .

Pollard, M 1992, Johann Gutenberg: the story of the invention of moveable type and how printing led to a knowledge explosion, Exley Publications, UK.

Pollard, M 2001, Johann Gutenberg : master of modern printing, Blackbirch press, US.

‘Printing’ 2012 (d), World book, World book online info finder, viewed 4 October 2012.

‘Printing press’ 2012 (b), World book, World book online info finder, viewed 4 October 2012.

Stephen Fry & the Gutenberg press 2011 [DVD], BBC, UK. Distributed in Australia by Madman entertainment.

‘Stereotyping’ 2012, World book, World book online info finder, viewed 4 October 2012.

Tames, R 2006, The printing press : a breakthrough in communication, Heinemann Library, Oxford.

The University of Texas at Austin 2012, The Gutenberg bible at the Ransom center, Harry Ransom center, viewed 12 October 2012 http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/permanent/gutenberg/ . 

‘Type’ 2012, World book, World book online info finder, viewed 4 October 2012.

University of Iowa libraries 2009, The atlas of early printing, University of Iowa libraries, viewed 12 October 2012, http://atlas.lib.uiowa.edu/ .

Walker, G. A. 2005, The woodcut’s artist handbook : techniques and tools for relief printmaking, Firefly books, US.

Young, S 2007, The book is dead : long live the book, University of New South Wales press, Sydney.

Blogpost 4

 Week four bliss

At last the resources I reserved are available. I Just picked up 21 items from two different council libraries and have another library to go to tomorrow. Now I can happily work my way through those and then use the databases, internet etc. to get more detail on the areas that need extending. I didn’t do a reference interview today as both libraries were too busy. Instead I lodged a request through the library website so hopefully that will get a better response. I’ll also try at another library tomorrow, armed with more knowledge and some more questions. It will be interesting to see the difference in results.

Chinese translation

It’s not all smooth sailing though. I am now having problems finding out more information about Bi Sheng. Well actually, it’s not so much finding information on him that’s the problem, its finding information in English. Hopefully there will be information on him and his technique in the resources I borrowed today so I can get closer to solving the debate.

China traditional printing_movable type printing technology

 

"Moveable type printing" (WarsonPrinting 2008) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UpwOtb7yh0&feature=youtu.be

Searching online & in books

I spent quite a while searching the State and National library online databases this week too. There are quite a few interesting articles etc. however most of them are on information I had already discovered from the resources I borrowed or from Swinburne’s online resources. It was good to have the information I have so far confirmed and discover a few new people/periods to research. I also sent an e-mail to the “Ask a Librarian” link on the National Library website with some general queries regarding my report but mostly focusing on the Bi Sheng vs. Johanna Gutenberg debate. Hopefully they will have access to some translated information. I’m not sure how long it will take to get a response but hopefully soon (as the holidays are upon us I should have a reply before my next post).

Printing press

 

 “Photographic print of printing press supposedly used at Collins’ Sorrento settlement, 1803-1804. The press was housed in the Perth Public Library at the time of photograph, likely 1932.” (State library of Victoria [1932?]) – http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do;jsessionid=F442F5C9A6C473C6BC94D305EC660E7C?dscnt=1&docId=SLV_VOYAGER1810166&vid=MAIN&fromLogin=true .

 

Whilst in search of information on Bi Sheng vs. Johanna Gutenberg I have discovered that “Johann Gutenberg was voted ‘Man of the millennium’ by an American team of journalists” (Fussel 2003, p. 7) and that although Bi Sheng and Gutenberg both invented printing techniques, neither were responsible for making printing so widespread. During the time of these inventions China was very isolated and kept to itself with the discovery of paper only spreading after war prisoners shared the secret in return for their safe release. (Burns 1994) And as patenting wasn’t invented yet Gutenberg worked in secret keeping his ideas to himself. It wasn’t until Gutenberg’s business partner, a lawyer named Johann Fust (who knew nothing of printing); legally won the right to all of Johanna Gutenberg’s tools and printed materials that this knowledge started to spread and boy did it spread once it started. (Pollard 1992, p. 35 & 36) I intend to look into this more closely next week as well as how printing has progressed since first invented. I have found several stages that I need to search the databases for more information. I also have placement coming up so I will check the resources available there and talk to some of the staff to see if they know anything about the history of printing.

Cite

Beckham, R 2005, Who in the world was the secretive printer? : The story of Johannes Gutenberg, Peace hill press, Charles City.

Bennett, H. S. 1969, English books and readers 1475 to 1557, 2^nd edn, Cambridge University press, Cambridge. 

Berry, W. T. & Poole, H. E. 1966, Annals of printing: a chronological encyclopaedia from the earliest times to 1950, Littlehampton book services, London.

Bolton, A. T. 1978, ‘Alec Boltonat his printing press, printing the brochure for Greek coins’ [image], National library of Australia, viewed 21 September 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an14261020 .

Brookfield, K 1993, Writing, HarperCollins, N.S.W.

Burns, P 1994, Writing: stepping through history, Hachette children’s books, London.

Carter, J 1967, Printing and the mind of man, Littlehampton book service, London.

Crystal, D 2004, The stories of English, Penguin books, London.

Eisenstine, E 1989, The printing press as an agent of change : communications and cultural transformations in early modern Europe, vol. 1 & 2, Cambridge University press, National library of Australia online – Google books, viewed 21 September 2012.

Fisher, L. E. 1993, Gutenberg, Maxwell MacMillian International, US.

Franklin, C 1969, The private presses, Studio Vista, London.

Fussel, S 2003, Gutenberg and the Impact of Printing, Scolar Press, National library of Australia online – Google books, viewed 21 September 2012.

Gutenberg-museum Mainz 2012, The Gutenberg Museum, Gutenberg-museum Mainz, viewed 20 September 2012 http://www.gutenberg-museum.de/index.php?id=29&L=1 .

Hauser, D 2006, Printers of the streets and lanes of Melbourne (1837 – 1975), Nondescript press, Melbourne.

Johns, A 1998, The nature of the book : print and knowledge in the making, University of Chicago press, Chicago.

Krensky, S 1996, Breaking into print : before and after the invention of the printing press, Little, Brown and company, US.

Maddison, R 1979, ‘Claire Norman at the printing press’ [image], National library of Australia, viewed 21 September 2012 http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an21234224-2 .

McLuhan, M 1962, The Gutenberg galaxy : the making of typographic man, Routledge, London.

McMurtrie, D. C. 1940, The world’s greatest invention : printing, Hawthorn press, Melbourne.

McMurtrie, D 1943, The book : story of printing and bookmaking, 3^rd edn Rev, Dorset Press, US.

Moran, J 1975, Printing in the 20^th century: a Penrose anthology, Northwood Publications, London.

Mullins, L 2007, Inventing the printing press, Crabtree publications, US.

National library of Australia [193-?], ‘[Will Dyson at his printing press]’ [image], National library of Australia, viewed 21 September 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23302330 .

Oxlade, C 1995, Writing and printing : facts, things to make, activities, Watts, London.

Pollard, M 1992, Johann Gutenberg: the story of the invention of moveable type and how printing led to a knowledge explosion, Exley Publications, UK.

Spilsbury, R & L 2012, The printing press, Raintree, London.

State library of Victoria [ca. 1914], ‘[Printing press]’ [image], State library of Victoria, viewed 21 September 2012, http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/24835 .

State library of Victoria [1932?], ‘Printing press’ [image], State library of Victoria, viewed 21 September 2012, http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/67145 .

State library of Victoria [ca. 1945- ca. 1965], ‘[Roland-ultra printing press?]’ [image], State library of Victoria, viewed 21 September 2012, http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/187815 .

State library of Victoria 2012, Mirror of the world, books & ideas,  State library of Victoria, viewed 21 September 2012, http://www.mirroroftheworld.com.au/index.php .

Tames, R 2006, The printing press : a breakthrough in communication, Heinemann Library, Oxford.

‘The history of printing gets inked’ 2012, PRWeb Newswire, General reference centre GOLD, viewed 20 September 2012.

‘The inky arts still press on the memory in Fleet Street; David Meara reports on an internationally renowned collection in the history of printing’ 2012, The Times(London, England), June 9 2012, pp. 87, Academic OneFile, viewed 20 September 2012. 

WarsonPrinting 2008, China traditional printing_moveable type printing technology, viewed 24 September 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UpwOtb7yh0 .

Wilkinson, P & Dineen, J 1994, Scrolls to computers, Anova books, London.

Wills, W. D & H.O. [19--?], ‘Caxton’s printing press’ [image], National library of Australia, viewed 21 September 2012 http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3891198 .

Note

I've also noticed that there are several different spellings for Gutenberg's first name. At the moment I am using the spelling from the resource I am referring to but I will try to find the correct spelling to use for the report.