Because in ancient times, the cost of printing a book was beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Printing a book with only a few dozen pages, including various plate making, printing, and ink costs, will cost nearly ten taels of silver.
Ten taels of silver could almost buy a house in the Ming Dynasty. Who could afford this?
Therefore, most scholars in ancient times borrowed books to copy. It can be said that in ancient times, if someone was willing to lend you a book, it would be a great kindness.
After you become successful, you must repay others heavily.
At this time, Shen Yu suddenly became extremely looking forward to the thread-bound book in the stall owner's hand.
"If he really has a rare book from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, even if the price is very high and I can't buy it, I can let Mr. Li buy it.
"This kind of ancient book can only be passed down better in the hands of people who really love books."
Perhaps seeing the enthusiasm in Shen Yu's eyes, the stall owner looked at Shen Yu for a while before solemnly uttering two words: ""Spring and Autumn"."
"Spring and Autumn Period? Ming Dynasty or Qing Dynasty? Is it an official or private edition, or a workshop edition?" Shen Yu asked expectantly.
"What book? This is the ancient book Spring and Autumn Period."
Shen Yu was stunned at first, and then sighed secretly in his heart, "This person knows nothing about the technical terminology of ancient books. He must be using modern printed materials to fool me."
Blocked editions are also called printed editions, and all books printed by engraving can be called blocked editions.
There are three types of engravings: official engravings, private engravings, and private engravings.
Official engraving means literally.
For example, during the Song and Ming dynasties, the Imperial College managed the school and published books, so the books from the Imperial College can be called official editions.
For example, the encyclopedia of the Song Dynasty, "Taiping Yulan", which has the title of the best book of its kind, is the official engraving of the Imperial College.
In addition to the Imperial College, there are also various academies, government schools, state schools, county schools, bookstores and other editions that can be called official engravings. Official engravings are generally not for profit, but only for teaching and educating people. They are mostly used for imperial examinations and Medical books, etc.
Private printing is also easy to understand. It is a book that is privately funded and printed by others.
Most of the enlightenment books used by wealthy people to open private schools are "Three Character Classic", "Hundred Family Surnames", "Thousand Character Essay", "Disciple Rules", "Zhu Xi's Family Instructions", "Zengguang Xian Wen" and other enlightenment books.
Private engravings are not for profit, but only for educating future generations, so private engravings are also called family school editions.
The word "Fang" carved in "Fang" means "Bookstore".
Ancient bookshops are now bookstores. In addition to selling books, booksellers also print books. They have no other purpose but to make money.
After silently reciting a treasure appraisal, Shen Yu looked at the thread-bound book in the stall owner's hand.
Sure enough, no precious light appeared.
Seeing that Shen Yu didn't show the surprise he should have, the stall owner's eyes widened instantly, "Isn't it? You don't even know about Spring and Autumn? It's the Spring and Autumn Annals that Guan Yu read."
Shen Yu smiled when he heard this: "What? You mean, the book in your hand is the Spring and Autumn Classic that Guan Sheng Bingzhu read at night?"
Seeing the young man in front of him being so polite, the stall owner secretly rejoiced: "It's ten times better than that one. Don't yell after hearing this. This book was written by Kong Sheng himself when he was still alive. It has been passed down for two generations." More than a thousand years."
Looking at the thread-bound book in the stall owner's hand, Shen Yu suppressed a smile and joked: "So awesome? Is it true?"
No wonder Shen Yu suppressed his laughter, there was no paper in the Spring and Autumn Period, because paper was invented by Cai Lun in the Han Dynasty.
Without paper, there would naturally be no so-called paper Spring and Autumn Classics.
Moreover, even Confucius and others did not know the existence of paper.
In fact, this is also an old trick in the flea market.
Although paper was already used in the Han Dynasty, and papermaking technology also developed rapidly after that, in the Eastern Han Dynasty, "Caihou Paper" and "Zuobo Paper" appeared.
But from the Western Han Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms, bamboo slips (bamboo slips) and silk were still widely used.
It can be said that all the so-called ancient books from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods as well as the Qin and Han dynasties in the antique market are all fakes.
Moreover, thread-bound books were invented in the Song Dynasty and became popular only in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There was no such thing as thread-bound books before.
"Pfft!"
The stall owner couldn't hold it back in the end and laughed out loud: "Of course I'm kidding, where did the paper come from in the Spring and Autumn Period? But my book is made with thick ink and the binding is all hand-sewn. If you buy it and put it on your bookshelf, it will definitely be Have face."
Shen Yu shook his head at the stall owner and smiled humbly: "Sorry, I'm not very interested in modern printed matter like ancient books, so you'd better put them away."
Seeing that Shen Yu had no intention to buy, the stall owner immediately grimaced: "Brother, why don't you do your best and buy a copy?
"To tell you the truth, I haven't opened my business yet this morning. It's obvious that you two are not short of money. This book of mine is definitely worth buying.
"Hey, I have an eighty-year-old woman at home and two and a half young men at home. I can't sell it for money, and my wife won't be able to complain when I go back..."
"Brother Yu, let's just buy a copy. At worst, I will go back and give it to my father." Gu Qingqing shook Shen Yu's arm unbearably, with a hint of sympathy on her beautiful face.
To be honest, the stall owner doesn't look like someone who has enough to eat. If he wasn't a bit slovenly, no one would doubt him if he put on decent clothes and said he was a university professor.
However, although there are many stories in the antique circle, there are countless items that have been sold badly, but those items usually cost a few thousand yuan.
After all, people still want to save face. These fixed stalls in the flea market are selling so badly just to sell books. It’s not worth spreading the news and making colleagues laugh. It seems that this stall owner’s business is indeed not very good.
"How much does your book cost?"
"Original price is one hundred and sixty."
“A bit expensive.”
"Okay, I won't talk nonsense. You can take the eighty yuan, which is really the cost price. I bought a box of goods at a time and couldn't sell them all. Otherwise, I wouldn't be afraid of my wife complaining." The stall owner He just looked at Shen Yu dryly, his eyes full of expectation.
"Then let's get one."
Shen Yu handed the money to Gu Qingqing without reading the book. Gu Qingqing took it with a smile and stuffed it into his handbag.
"Brother, to be honest, we just want to buy some older ancient books as gifts. They don't necessarily have to be precious Ming and Qing ancient books. Let's put it this way, as long as they are old books."
Shen Yu struck while the iron was hot, how could he choose that rare book from the Ming Dynasty among a pile of ancient books? Isn't now a good opportunity?
"There are a bunch of old books here." The stall owner said, pointing to the pile of thread-bound books that were emitting light.
"These are all new ones I picked up in the countryside. No matter whether they are old or new, you can choose them for 80 yuan each. But this is the lowest price and you can't bargain.
"Of course, if you buy more than ten copies, I will get five yuan off for each copy. I do business fairly and will never ask for more from you." The stall owner added after a pause.
"It's done." Shen Yu said loudly to himself in his heart.
