I have noticed that sefarim (Jewish books) tend to use golden-colored shiny text on the spine and cover. Of course, there are some notable exceptions (e.g. books by Mossad HaRav Kook), but this seems true of the vast majority, including popular books such as the Artscroll series. Indeed, I've noticed that I can distinguish a shelf laden with sefarim from one with secular books at a glance based on whether it shimmers from a distance.
Is there a name for this, and why is it practiced? Has this been in use for a long time, or is it a recent trend? Moreover, was it used in the past for secular books as well?
Example (from User: Reuvenk / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-3.0):