Why do books come out in hardcover first?

Question

Why do books come out in hardcover first?

Answer

They dont always, but like most questions money is the answer.brbrHistorically, books were all hardcover for many utilitarian reasons such as durability, and ability to stack upright on a shelf. The hard cover was actually made from leather to protect the delicate parchment which contained the hand written pages. These first books were so expensive that in todays dollars they would be equivalent to several thousand dollars apiece. Over time, paper quality was improved and mass printing was invented which resulted in the leather covers being replaced with cheaper compressed paper hardcovers. brbrToday, prestige, profits, and durability, are the reasons hard cover books exist. For the author, it is prestigious to be able to sign your first edition book which just feels better than a paperback. For the publisher, higher profit margins are obtained by hardcover books. For the collectors and Libraries, the hardcover is much more durable than the soft cover and is thus preferred.brbrMany books today, such as romance novels, are never printed in hardcover because they are meant to be a cheap one time use book.