A Brief History of Bookmarks

Next time you slide a slip of paper between the pages of your book, spare a thought for the humble bookmark.

Bookmarks have been around since the 13th century, when they were used to mark points in the long medieval scrolls of the period. Most were of the clip-on variety that seems to have come back into fashion recently (isn't it funny how these things come around?), and several examples have survived to the present day.

By the 18th century books (mainly Bibles and prayer books) were starting to appear with fabric strips sown into the spine, as a way of saving the page without damaging the fragile paper. You still get these in some 'classic' editions - although you probably didn't realize that they're a throwback to the 1700s.

It was in the 1850s that the modern bookmark truly came into existence, however, with the increased production of modern-style books. These detachable bookmarks were similar to the modern concept - a slip of paper or other material that you could slide between the pages to save your place. They also came decorated as they do today, with everything from sponsored advertisements to embroidered works of art. Many had tapered edges, so they could also be used to slit the pages of the books, which still arrived unseparated from the printers - a publishing necessity that led to the current trend for 'deckle edge' literary hardbacks.

Then, finally, in 2012 the Ka Mate: Travels in New Zealand bookmark was released, complete with a discount code for 10% off the book from the Createspace website. Which (as you may have guessed) was the point of this entire piece. I now have a stack of these bookmarks (pictured) on my desk, and I'm excited to set about handing them out. Who knows what pages they may end up between.

Of course, then the ebook arrived, and for some readers the bookmark became as obsolete as those medieval scrolls. But that's where a whole new story begins...

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