The exhibition uncovers the mysteries and the art of bookbinding that for many centuries has been contributing to preservation and accessibility of knowledge. The invention of letterpress printing played a decisive role. This exhibition puts emphasis on the printing development in the Czech lands from the beginnings to the 19th century and focuses on the selected printmakers and printing houses in Prague.

Part of the exhibition is dedicated to bindings, book cover decoration techniques, and also bookbinders and decorators, including the tools and materials they used. A smaller part is dedicated to beautifully decorated prayer books and books that were related to many other crafts – the log books of journeymen – without which journeyman would not make do. Authentic objects of the book and non-book nature from the collections of the City of Prague Museum and the National Technical Museum are presented in five exhibition halls. The interactive scribal arts and bookbinding workshop which is part of the exhibition provides an opportunity to try the professions of scribes, printmakers, and bookbinders, or try to identify the materials which were used for writing in the past.

The City of Prague Museum — Ctěnice Château