In this full-year seminar, students will learn about the materials that have shaped the form of the book and the revived art of letterpress printing. Starting with a historical overview of printing itself—from prehistoric beginnings to the development of woodblock printing onwards—and its massive impact on society, this course will teach students about the importance of printing, the development of the book as technology, and their power, then and now, to shape humanity. Topics covered will include the development of movable type and of the printing press, the emergence of books as a form of knowledge transmission, and the way both have affected the way we live our lives. Students will have an opportunity to practice block printing, papermaking, and bookbinding, as well as to produce printed materials.