I'm a little sad that making quality books has become something of a niche art, like making fine furniture. Even what were considered journeyman bindings from the late 19th century are much higher quality than what is put out today.
I don't have ANY basis for what I'm about to say, it's just speculation.
I bet that there's a certain constancy in the volume of higher end quality books (with some growth given printing tech, etc.) and that it's the bottom end that really has exploded since that side is the and more widely accessible.
Naturally, that would give the appearance of decline, when really it's just the more well to do that care that spend on such things... which would be the same as it's always been.
4 comments
[ 1.7 ms ] story [ 24.1 ms ] threadI bet that there's a certain constancy in the volume of higher end quality books (with some growth given printing tech, etc.) and that it's the bottom end that really has exploded since that side is the and more widely accessible.
Naturally, that would give the appearance of decline, when really it's just the more well to do that care that spend on such things... which would be the same as it's always been.