Ten facts to contemplate upon reaching 30 years of age Those of us of a, uh, mature age comfort ourselves in the knowledge that a lot of writers bloomed late in life.  But what about those who made their mark early?  Here are some accomplishments of writers before they turned 30. John Updike had seen two novels … [Read more...]

By the eighth century, there were paper mills operating in Japan producing paper with no yellowing acid content -- a sheet looks the same today as 1,200 years ago. The paper used by Gutenberg in the first printed Bible (around 1450), with its brilliantly clear bunch-of-grapes watermark, is of a time-defying quality … [Read more...]

Sewell Child Development Center  and Urban Peak are our newest beneficiaries for donated books  -- thanks to your generosity Printed Page donates books to the St. Francis Center, Reading Partners, East Denver FISH, and our newest worthy organizations -- the Sewell Child Development Center and Urban Peak, which … [Read more...]

Pretty much every American with any education knows that Benjamin Franklin was a scientist, an inventor, a diplomat, a father of our country, and the model for $100 bills.  But far fewer know that he was the first American to print a novel.  (Of course, he began his career as a printer, and he even printed money, … [Read more...]

Most everyone of a certain age knows of the "Encyclopedia Brittanica," but few know how it came about.  For its origin, we can thank a Scotsman, William Smellie (1740-1795), a printer, naturalist and antiquary.  Smellie was joined in his project by the 4" 6" Andrew Bell, who dealt with jokes about his enormous nose by … [Read more...]