03.19.12

After 244 years of printing, it’s over. According to an article last week on money.cnn.com (http://money.cnn.com/2012/03/13/technology/encyclopedia-britannica-books/index.htm), Encyclopedia Britannica, which used to print a new 32-volume set every two years, is now out of the business of printing books. 2010’s set was the last; from now on Britannica will be digital only.

Is Britannica sad? Not really, according to the article; the printed set only made up 1% of sales.

One comment we read suggested that if books are now antiques, one might expect that rare book and first-edition dealers will be increasingly profitable.

Here at SullivanPerkins, we are currently producing a website for staffer Holly Schleier’s mother, who is in the business of making and repairing books, from her home business in West Virginia – in effect, making a bet on craft, with the book as beautiful object.