Modern e-readers didn’t emerge until 2007. However, the first ‘e-book’ is technically dated back to 1971.

Technologist Michael Stern used a Xerox Sigma V mainframe at the University of Illinois to type up the Declaration of Independence. He then shared the digital file with his fellow tech-heads on 4 July in 1971. This marked the beginning of Project Gutenberg, an initiative to digitise and archive books. The original file still exists, and can be read on the University’s website.