Written Book

Not to be confused with Enchanted Book.

Written Book

Rarity tier	Common
Renewable	Yes
Stackable	Yes (16)

A written book is a book and quill that has been signed, which prevents its text from being edited and allows copies of it to be crafted. It can also be displayed on a lectern. It has a glint, as if enchanted.

Obtaining

Signing a book and quill

Written books can be obtained by signing a book and quill. After it has been signed, it cannot be edited again. The label does not say "Written Book", but whatever the player titles it. The title appears on the top line of the label, and "by <player>" (the player's username) on the bottom. In Bedrock Edition, this is customizable without commands.

Copying

A signed written book can be copied using a crafting table. Books have four generations: "Original", "Copy of Original", "Copy of Copy", and "Tattered". Only books of the generations "Original" and "Copy of Original" may be copied, creating the "Copy of Original" and "Copy of Copy" generations respectively. Books of the generation "Copy of Copy" may not be copied. The "Tattered" generation is unused in normal gameplay.

Ingredients	Crafting recipe	Notes
Book and Quill + Written Book	2345678	The input written book is not consumed. The new copies are "Copy of Original" or "Copy of Copy", depending on whether the input written book is "Original" or "Copy of Original". Copies of copies cannot be copied. Copied books of the same generation ("Original", "Copy of Original", "Copy of Copy", or "Tattered") stack.

Usage

Written books can be opened by pressing the use control (or holding down on the touchscreen in Bedrock Edition), and display a GUI allowing the player to read it or turn the page.

The contents of a book are an extra set of data attached to the item. This means that when a book is destroyed, its contents are lost with it.

Lecterns

Written books can be placed on an empty lectern.

The lectern then emits a redstone signal depending on the displayed page in the book. On the last page, the lectern emits a signal strength of 15.

Chiseled bookshelf

Using the chiseled bookshelf while having a written book in the main hand puts the book inside the chiseled bookshelf.

Sounds

Java Edition

Bedrock Edition:

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Item tags	Translation key
Written Book	written_book	Item	bookshelf_books lectern_books	item.minecraft.written_book

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item tags	Translation key
Written Book	written_book	511	Item	minecraft:bookshelf_books minecraft:lectern_books	item.written_book.name

Item data

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

History

Java Edition

Java Edition
1.3.1			12w17a				Added written books.
			12w21a				Written books can now be sold to librarian villagers, at 1 written book for 1 emerald.
1.7.2			13w36a				Written books can now be cloned the same way maps can, but by using books and quills instead of Empty Maps. Multiple copies of the same written book can be cloned by putting more book and quills in the crafting grid.
							Written books can now be stacked (up to 16 per stack).
1.8			14w02a				Trading has been changed: librarian villagers now buy 2 written books for 1 emerald.
			14w05a				Copying written books now marks them as "Copy of Original" or "Copy of Copy". The copying status of a book is denoted in a separate line in the tooltip, beneath the author's name. Copies of copies cannot be copied.
1.9			15w33c				A written book titled "Work in Progress" now generates within a hopper as a part of the end ship in the end cities. It reads: "We will have something else here soon..." and is signed by Searge.
			15w41a				End ships no longer contain a written book.
1.14			18w43a				The texture of written books has been changed.
			19w02a				Written books can now be held on lecterns.
			19w11a				Librarian villagers no longer buy written books.
1.19.3 Experiment Update 1.20			22w42a				Written books can now interact with chiseled bookshelves.
1.20.5			pre1				The page limit of written books has now been removed.
1.21.6			pre3				The turn page sound is now controlled by the "UI" source.

Bedrock Edition

Bedrock Edition
1.2.0			beta 1.2.0.2				Added written books.
1.10.0			beta 1.10.0.3				The texture of written books has been changed.
							Written books can now be held on lecterns.
?							Written Books are no longer obtainable with the /give Command.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU25	CU14	1.17	1.17	1.17	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added written books.
							Written books can be sold to librarian villagers, at 1 written book for 1 emerald.
TU31	CU19	1.22	1.22	1.22	Patch 3		Written books can now be cloned the same way maps can, but by using books and quills instead of Empty Maps. Multiple copies of the same written book can be cloned by putting more book and quills in the crafting grid.
							Written books can now be stacked (up to 16 per stack).
							Trading has been changed: librarian villagers now buy 2 written books for 1 emerald.
							Copying written books marks them as "Copy of Original" or "Copy of Copy". The copying status of a book is denoted in a separate line in the tooltip, beneath the author's name. Copies of copies cannot be copied.
			1.90				The texture of written books has been changed.
							Written books can now be held on lecterns.
			1.91				Librarian villagers no longer buy written books.

Data history

Issues

Issues relating to "Written Book" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

• When written books are obtained with commands (without the correct data tag), the label shows "Written Book" and has the text "*Invalid book tag*" when opened. The book is signed and cannot be edited without commands.
• Commands that were added to a written book using serialized JSON objects are executed through the chat system. This means that any command added to a written book can't be longer than 256 characters, which is the maximum chat line limit.
• Within the April Fools' snapshot Java Edition 20w14∞, throwing a written book into a lit nether portal creates a portal to one of the 2,147,483,645 new dimensions.

Gallery

Textures

• 
  Java Edition book background texture
• 
  Bedrock Edition book background texture
• 
  Java Edition left arrow texture
• 
  Java Edition right arrow texture
• 
  Bedrock Edition left arrow texture
• 
  Bedrock Edition Right arrow texture

Screenshots

• 
  A signed book
• 
  Copying a signed book
• 
  First image of a book using JSON text
• 
  A no NBT written book using commands

See also

• Book
• Bookshelf
• Book and Quill
• Formatting Codes