The earliest dated printed book known is "Diamond Sutra," printed in China in 868 CE. However, it is suspected that book printing may have occurred long before this date.

Back then, printing was limited in the number of editions made and nearly exclusively decorative, used for pictures and designs. The material to be printed was carved into wood, stone, and metal, rolled with ink or paint, and transferred by pressure to parchment or vellum. Books were hand copied mostly by members of religious orders.

In 1452, Johannes Gutenberg--a German blacksmith craftsman, goldsmith, printer, and inventor--printed copies of the Bible on the Gutenberg press, an innovative printing press machine that used movable type. It remained the standard until the 20th century.

A Timeline of Printing