Manuscript collectors assembled bespoke texts, a freedom print abolished

Evidence

The flexibility of the compilation, the ability to create bespoke texts from segments of other works, was one of the key features distinguishing the manuscript book world from the age of print, where the order and nature of texts was established before they came into the hands of the purchaser. This loss of autonomy in the creation of books would be one of the major sources of regret among established collectors in the transition from manuscript to print in the fifteenth century. — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 65

Categorization

• XREF: Directly serves the reader’s stated bookkeeping/technology-transition goal — the manuscript-to-print shift of the fifteenth century — connects to: Printing emphasized vernacular languages and divided the European intellectual mind — Harold Innis, The Bias of Communication, 804; Antiquarian collectors prized books whose content contradicted their conservative values — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 548; Manuscript-era readers could compile bespoke texts; print ended that autonomy. (+2 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 65

Broader Connections

• Printing did not immediately collapse manuscript culture #corroborates (0.70) — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 167