Leaving a mark

There are almost as many ways to mark a spot in our favorite books as there are genres of novels to choose from. Whether you utilize a custom-made piece of art that showcases your favorite hobby, or a receipt you decided to recycle into a page marker, the bookmark is still a necessity for those that prefer turning paper to swiping a digital page.

Despite the popularity of e-books, there is still a market for customized bookmarks. A quick Etsy search will show plenty of options that reflect a customer’s interests or hobbies. Many of us still prefer good old paper books, and that has led to the bookmark remaining timeless. Historically, the bookmark has been one of the most effective ways for avid readers to protect the spines of their precious novels while saving the spot they had last read.

Bookmarks are almost as old as books themselves. According to The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, as the printing of books became more popular in the fifteenth century, there became a need to protect the fragile spines of these expensive volumes with a way to mark a page without damaging the book.

Book Riot discusses that the idea a bookmark could be used to keep one's place while protecting the book caught on, and advertisers took notice of this widely used, simplistic tool. Bookmarks were a favorite for publicizing goods and services and were also used as publicity for various companies and organizations.

The height of bookmark design took place during the Victorian and Edwardian eras, as books became more accessible to the masses, explained The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America. Bookmarks and page markers can be made from a variety of materials, including paper, celluloid, silver, gold, pewter, wood, brass, copper, ivory, aluminum, chrome, tin, plastic, leather, fiberglass, ribbon and silk.

Despite the move to digital books in the modern era, many die-hard readers still love the feeling of turning a paper page. That means book lovers still need a way to save their spot. The bookmark has seen a renaissance as artists and small business owners utilize metalworking or hand-painted creations that have become more easily accessible through the web. Maybe you prefer a minimalist way instead and a scrap paper will do the job just as well. No matter what you decide to use, a bookmark is a great way to help guide you through your latest reading adventure.