Gold stamping was used in the 1300s in Persia and the 1500s in England. It came to America with the early settlers. When the invention of the railroad came along, travel was easier. People would often read on their journeys. Since the number of books read increased, so did the need for the materials from which they were made.
Books were bound in the 1830s using leather, white glair, which was made of egg white and vinegar, and gold leaf. The stamp was applied and heated to assure permanency. However, while beautiful, this process was expensive. Cloth bindings, while less expensive, did not hold the impressions or gold stamping because the materials were incompatible. In 1832, a cloth was found that would hold both the impressions and stamping. Gold was also more available during this time.
With the increased availability of gold and the invention of the mechanical press in 1838, the popularity of gold stamping increased. Early designs had only the title of the book stamped on them. Because of the mechanical press, a greater variety of elaborate designs were soon made possible. Time was also saved because the design could be made once and stamped on many copies. The designs could also be changed according to individual preferences. While popular in America and England, other European countries, notably Italy and France, preferred to use cloth bindings for their books.
As knowledge increased, other machines were invented that made gold stamping more accessible. For example, with the invention of the arming press, publishers and cloth bindings usage increased. An image could be made and actually pressed into the book binding using heat. The parts of the book were then sewn together and the cover attached. Production was increased because the book casing and the body of the book could be worked on simultaneously. The savings in time and cost resulted in a greater accessibility for all.
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