This article records some of the studies which revolve around books and publishing in Colombia. Balance allows one to state that even if Colombian books and magazines have frequently been research sources and a motive for e reflection, few studies are devoted to publications as an object of study in itself, specially printed books. Knowledge is limited regarding material conditions and how they affect activities like text production, circulation and reception. However, there are some cases which permit recognizing research background which has contributed substantially to the topic. Finally, this paper suggests some questions that future studies must resolve.