1: Early Printed Books Didn’t Have Page Numbers

Welcome to the first post in our Fun Facts with DJ Sims series, where the Trailhead Printing bear shares quick and interesting facts from the world of printing.

Here’s today’s fun fact:

Some of the earliest printed books didn’t include page numbers at all. In many cases, printers left blank spaces so readers could write in their own numbers by hand. Page numbering wasn’t yet a standard part of book design, and readers often organized their books themselves.

Over time, printers began adding page numbers directly during the printing process, making books easier to navigate and reference. It’s one of those small details we take for granted today, but it was once something readers had to do on their own.

Luckily, modern printing has made things a lot easier. These days, page numbers are just another part of the layout—and DJ Sims makes sure everything comes out in the right order.

Stay tuned for more Fun Facts with DJ Sims, where we’ll keep sharing interesting bits of print history and behind-the-scenes knowledge from the print shop!