Book

The A yrians preserved their literature upon clay tablets or upon the papyrus leaves, the Egyptians used the latter, and parchment was employed by the Persians. Paper is said to have been invented in the first century. The earliest books were historical records or a ociated with the religious rites or beliefs of the Ancients. The oldest papyrus dates 2000 B.C. These materials have been used by the various peoples of the world, the cheapening of their production and the invention of printing and machinery having reduced the cost of books to the minimum at the present time.