11/10/2025
📚✨ **Exploring the History of Books – From Clay Tablets to books of today!**
We had such an incredible experience at the J. Willard Marriott Library Rare Books Special Collection last year that we *just had to go back!* This year’s presentation, once again led by the always-fascinating Rare Books Librarian **Lyuba Basin**, took us on a journey through the history of books — all the way back to **1900–1700 BC!**
We saw and learned so much — including **clay tablets from the palace-dedication inscription of King Sin-kashid of Uruk**, discovered in a castle wall! We also learned about ancient **papyrus**, a plant that grew only along the Nile and was used so extensively it was nearly farmed to extinction.
One of the most breathtaking pieces was a **Hebrew scroll of the Book of Esther** dating back to **408 BC**. We also learned that early books were created mainly for religious purposes — often just a single copy, accessible only to the church and the elite.
A true show-stopper was the **Codex Purpureus** — a 6th-century Gospel of St. Matthew written on *purple-dyed pages* (created by crushing millions of sea snails!) and printed in **silver ink**. Talk about a royal read! 💜
The presentation explored how books evolved into symbols of knowledge, faith, and status — and how **Johannes Gutenberg** *developed* the printing press in the 15th century, revolutionizing how books were made. His invention faced resistance from those who valued handwritten manuscripts, and sadly, Gutenberg died penniless despite his world-changing contribution.
Lyuba’s presentation poses the big question: *“What is a book?”* — and let’s just say, the answer might surprise you!
Although this year’s group was a bit smaller, we’re already planning to return again next year — we learn something new every single time! To share the magic, we’re reposting a few of our favorite photos from last year’s trip — because this experience is just too good not to relive.
You can also explore the Rare Books collection online at: [https://lib.utah.edu/collections/rarebooks/](https://lib.utah.edu/collections/rarebooks/)
