This chapter considers the physical production of writing in a pre-print world, from the clay tablets of Mesopotamia through the papyrus scrolls of antiquity to the birth of the parchment codex in the early Christian period. There follows a discussion of the speed and number of scribes in the world of the medieval parchment book.

Chapter 3 focuses on some of the most frequently found historical materials and writing instruments which were used for writing. The chapter begins with a discussion of some of the most ancient materials, including stone and metal, as well as some other perishable materials which were in use among the first civilisations around the world. The discussion then moves on to describe papyrus, parchment, vellum, how they were made and what they were generally used for. The chapter also provides an overview of paper as a source of primary evidence, focusing on some of the key steps in the history of papermaking which can provide useful information for a student of orthography. Moving on, the narrative focuses on a short history of typographic styles, while also providing an overview of how to describe and classify type. The sections on paper and typography are informed by some extensive information already existing in the field of bibliography, while also including elements from palaeography.