In ancient times, most books were written by hand onto scrolls of vellum or papyrus - so they looked like rolled up paper. Mediaeval books were also hand-written, but more often bound in the shape we are more familiar with today.

I collect old books, and very rewarding it is too. Most towns and cities have second hand book shops that are very well worth visiting (often) and in the UK and Ireland, you can get information about house clearance sales that often turn up gems.

My oldest book is a 1604 treatise on fencing - although I do have a genuine papyrus from the Middle Kingdom, it is less a book than a section of building plan for a minor temple.