Books and Manuscripts| Duran Arte y Subastas|Auctions & Online Shop

Writing has been known since ancient times as a means of communication and expression to relate important events. The origin of writing lies in the use of ideographic symbols that appeared as early as the Neolithic period. The first known texts are found in the Sumerian cuneiform tablets and in the hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt and Minoan Crete. The precedent of the book is found in the Egyptian texts written on papyrus, which was progressively replaced by parchment, a more durable medium than papyrus. Paper is a Chinese invention from the 1st century. The Arabs, in the 8th century, learned to make paper and introduced it in Europe. In the Ancient Age, the book was a continuous roll and it was in the Middle Ages when the codices were made with sewn sheets and the rectangular format that we know. The great revolution in the world of books occurred with the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in the 15th century and the possibility of mass printing. Books printed between 1440 and 1500 are known as incunabula. In Durán Arte y Subastas' in-person auction, online store and online auction, you will find books of hours, maps, old documents, incunabula, first editions, rare and curious books. A space where collectors, bibliophiles, curious, fans and readers can find what they are looking for.

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