Frankfurt's literary tradition goes back to the years following the invention of the lead letter-press by Johannes Gutenberg. At the beginning of the 15th century, writers and picture printers were already exhibiting at the imperial trading fairs held here.

The book fair soon became known for fostering free expression. Martin Luther was allowed to sell his writings at the Frankfurt fair when he was being denounced as a heretic in other parts of Germany.

But this openness didn't last. In 1608, Emperor Maximilian II ordered a newly formed book commission to visit all booksellers and confiscate unauthorized documents. This was the beginning of the decline of Frankfurt as Germany's publishing center. By 1764, booksellers from other parts of the country abandoned Frankfurt and did their business to the east in Leipzig instead. After World War II, Leipzig remained the center of the eastern book trade, and Frankfurt was reinstated as West Germany's book-trading center. Even as technology has made it ever easier to communicate anywhere, anytime, the book fair has remained a must-do in the publishing industry.

Timeline:

• 1240 The Frankfurt Fair receives Imperial authorisation from Kaiser Friedrich II
• 1330 A spring fair is inaugurated by Kaiser Ludwig the Baier
• 1356 Frankfurt becomes the imperial election city. Emperors are crowned at the Church of St Bartholomew
• 1372 Frankfurt becomes a 'Free Imperial City' under Kaiser Karl IV
• 1402 Opening of the first exchange office in Frankfurt
• 1480 First Frankfurt book fair takes place on the Römerberg
• 1530 Opening of the first book printing presses signals the beginning of Frankfurt's role as a publishing centre
• 1562 Maximillian II is crowned king and Kaiser in Frankfurt's Kaiserdom
• 1585 Comparison of coin prices at the Autumn fair signals the beginnings of the Frankfurt Bourse: Traders compare the prices of coins at the Autumn Fair. The first official notation of trading levels occurs.
• 1614 The "Fettmilch Revolt": The haphazardly rule of the patricians in the council provokes a revolt of craftsman and guilds. The leader is the Lebküchen baker Vincenz Fettmilch.
  

Sources: Expedia.co.uk and Wired.news