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On paper : the everything of its two-thousand-year history
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On paper : the everything of its two-thousand-year history

by Nicholas A. Basbanes

This cultural history explores the global impact of paper, tracing its journey from ancient China to the modern world. It analyses how this versatile material has shaped human civilisation through its use in currency, communication, and industry.

Accession 12751 ISBN 9780307266422 Publisher —
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TAGS
Curated Derived
Culture Economics Handicrafts History Materials Publications Service Industries Social Sciences Transportation
CONNECTIONS
No connections
State
on_shelf
True
position_updated_at
2026-05-27 10:54
orientation
vertical
Details

Physical

binding_type
Hard Back
dimensions
none captured
spine_text
none captured

Metadata

Book form
LOCATION HISTORY
M:N4:11 2 Current vertical
1 week, 3 days ago
Book Location
Updated 1 week, 3 days ago
Vernon snapshot
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Frozen copy of Vernon's record from the last sync. Fields tagged → flow back into the Pulse record.

Last synced 2026-05-21 00:58 (2 weeks, 2 days ago)

Identity

name→ title
On paper : the everything of its two-thousand-year history
vernon_id
19925
accession_no→ accession_number
12751
vernon_slug
on-paper-the-everything-of-its-two-thousand-year-history-nicholas-a-basbanes

Drives Pulse state

curr_loc_status→ on_shelf
On Shelf
location_name
Zone N4/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/New Library (2026)/MONA
location_reason
On Shelf
isbn_issn→ isbn (when valid)
9780307266422

Descriptive

production_date
2013
object_type
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object_status
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brief_description
Nicholas Basbanes writes about paper, from its invention in China two thousand years ago to its ideal means, recording the thoughts of Islamic scholars and mathematicians that made the Middle East a center of intellectual energy; from Europe, by way of Spain in the twelfth century and Italy in the thirteenth at the time of the Renaissance, to North America and the rest of the inhabited world. Basbanes writes about the ways in which paper has been used to record history, make laws, conduct business, and establish identities . . . He makes clear that without paper, modern hygienic practice would be unimaginable; that as currency, people will do almost anything to possess it . . . that the Industrial Revolution would never have happened without paper on which to draw designs and blueprints.

Subjects & people

authors→ author (initial fill only)
Nicholas A. Basbanes
tags→ tags
History, Social sciences, Civilisation, Economics, Industries, Handicraft, Materials, Manufacturing industries, Paper, Fibres, Industrial arts, Paper -- History, Paper mills, Mills and mill-work
subject_people
—
subject_objects
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Cover image

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19973

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