ABSTRACT
The duties of the various branches employed in the production of books will be introduced in illustration of various references it will be necessary to make relative to the form of ancient records. The title consisted of a square piece of fine vellum or parchment, glued on the cover in such manner that, when rolled up, it appeared near the top, something similar to the titles of the books of the present day. The specimens of papyrus rolls show that the ancients were well acquainted with the process of gilding on leather and other substances, and that they so embellished the covers of their books is now placed beyond question. The early writers successively made use of linen and cotton cloths; of the skins, intestines, and even shoulder blades, of various animals; of table books of wax, ivory, and lead; of the skins of fishes; and of the intestines of serpents.
