First edition. A near fine copy. Not a coherent history of manuscripts, but a somewhat digressive account of the transmission of texts before printing. With sections on ink, paper, writing systems, book making, libraries, etc. Makes frequent reference to the Bible. A very low-key, simply written attempt to introduce a kind of historical perspective on the Bible, for an audience unaccustomed to viewing it that way, for use, perhaps, by "Sunday school teachers...and leaders of teacher-training classes" (p.5).