Before Gutenberg's time (pre-1545) , there was little reproduction of any printed matter taking place. So, in discussing art, the only real source for artwork was original paintings. Obviously, this was a privelege to the wealthy few. Owning art, as we know it today, was most likely not even a consideration to the common person.

But the moveable type press had everything to do with artwork reproduction (prints), not just books. Along with books came in-text illustrations created by carving wood blocks and placing them on the press plate next to a paragraph of text. Although owning books itself was a privelege of wealth even early on, the economic development of Europe and improved technology of the printing press started to change printing possibilities. 

It didn't take long  for creative masters to move from carving wood to engraving steel to render fine artworks within books. Steel gave them crisper and more accurate lines after multiple printings, whereas detailed carvings on wood often were damaged under the intense pressure of printing a few times. Soon entire pages were being used for the insertion of an art print into a book; these pages were known as plates (having no text on the back).

As economies continued to change, and printing technology continued to improve, the availability of affordable reproduced artwork (prints) grew. By the 1700's there was finally a market for printing presses to print stand alone artwork (what we would call posters today). In fact, some artist's printed engravings were prized over actual oil paintings--even though the engravings were printed copies off of a press. However, this was not the "norm." Artwork, by far, was more economical to include in books.

By the 1800's many, many styles and techniques started to develop in creating art that could be put on a press for reproduction.  Steel engraved plates, though, were still the most popular. And, far and away, the most common place to include that art was in books. Soon more and more people found it possible to get their art in this manner.  Then came photography.

Photography now made it possible to find additional ways to create print blocks to put on the press with the use of photo-etching in the last half of the 1800's. Photo-sensitive materials were coated onto copper sheets (plates), the sheet was then exposed  much like film in a camera, then acid was used to etch out the exposed areas on the plate. The copper plate was then put on the press to recreate the most accurately detailed images every reproduced to date.

Since then, photography took over as the most accurate means of reproduced art (prints) but not necessarily always improving the quality. And, as economies and technology grew, we found ourselves in an era where it was affordable and desired to print stand alone posters. Today we have digital reproduction, on demand printing, etc.

The fact remains, though, that even today prints are being created (and I do not mean by a lonely artist sitting at home rolling ink over the surface of a linoleum etching). They are being created every time an image is inked or printed onto a surface.  We've seen the technology of printing change how images are printed, from wood cuts to photo-etched plates to mass produced color posters. And we've seen that, until the last 50 years or so, most prints were included in books.  So the question is, what do YOU value?

When buying antique prints, realize that most of what is being sold (75 years and older is my guage) is authentic--whether out of a book, be it a half-tone, lithograph, etching, etc. The criteria you set for yourself will decide if you are getting what you want. Are you wanting to buy only steel engravings? Perhaps all print types from a particular artist? Maybe any type of print that has to do with Greek history? Moreso than any other collectors object, prints have vast characteristics and qualities. The fun aspect is the history involved and the niche subjects you choose to collect. Enjoy!