تعریف و معنای "incunable"

What is an "incunable"?

An incunable is a book or printed work produced in the early years of the printing press, specifically before 1501. The term comes from the Latin word "incunabula," meaning "cradle" or "swaddling clothes," reflecting the idea that these works were produced in the "cradle" or early stage of printing technology. Incunables are valuable to collectors and historians for their role in the development of print culture and their often unique characteristics, such as early typefaces and printing techniques. These books were among the first to be mass-produced using movable type, making them significant in the history of publishing.