In a world that's bent on digitizing everything, we antique book enthusiasts stubbornly cling to the tactile allure of paper. Ah, paper – a bibliophile's first love. Ever paused to ponder how these pages of yore evolved? Let us take a cheeky jaunt through the annals of paper history.
From ancient Egyptians writing on papyrus (no relation to the nefarious Comic Sans sibling) to Chinese artisans perfecting the art on mulberry bark, paper's origins were as diverse as our beloved first editions. Enter the Middle Ages, where animal-based parchment and vellum reigned supreme. Oh, how Gutenberg must have agonized over which luxurious sheet to debut his shiny printing press upon!
Fast forward to the Industrial Revolution, when rag paper finally usurped animal skin's papery throne. Are we not grateful that these pulpy innovations breathed life into the rare tomes we now covet?
Paper: ever-evolving, oft overlooked, but eternally fascinating. Let's raise a glass to our silent heroes: the pages of time.