Return to quality
By the late 1800's, several printers dedicated themselves to improving the quality of printed books. The English designer and craftsman William Morris led one such movement to restore the printed book to its old dignity and beauty. In 1890, Morris and a group of friends established the Kelmscott Press near London. They designed and used styles of type much like those in books printed before 1501. They printed books on handmade paper and bound and decorated them by hand. Other printers also made efforts to improve their product. Type designers, such as Rudolph Koch in Germany and Frederic Goudy in the United States, developed legible and beautiful types. Papermakers and printers experimented with more interesting techniques and styles.
Excerpt from the "Book" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999