Born as johann gensfleisch john gooseflesh, he preferred to be known as johann gutenberg john beautiful. Gutenbergs masterpiece, and the first book ever printed in europe from movable type, is the fortytwoline bible, completed no later than 1455. The grenville copy of the gutenberg bible is printed on vellum detail of folio 120 verso of vol. The gutenberg bible was among the earliest major books printed using massproduced movable metal type in europe. Gutenberg publishes the worlds first printed book awesomestories.
Already familiar with bookmaking, gutenberg perfected small metal type. The astounding story of one books fivehundredyear odyssey. A leaf from the first printed book, the gutenberg bible. Gutenberg bible, also called fortytwoline bible, or mazarin bible, the first complete book extant in the west and the earliest printed from movable type, so called after its printer, johannes gutenberg, who completed it about 1455 working at mainz, ger.
Johannes gutenberg invented the moveable type printing press in 1450. Jul 10, 2018 the book that changed the world a complete reprint of the revolutionary gutenberg bible the printing press has been called the greatest invention of the second millennium. Johannes gutenberg printing of the bible britannica. Gutenberg and the book that changed the world retinart. It marked the start of the gutenberg revolution and the age of printed books in the west. Johannes gensfleisch zur laden zum gutenberg was a. European output of books printed with movable types. So, gutenberg didnt actually invent the printing press.
Bought by james lenox in 1847, it was the first copy to be acquired by a united states citizen. The first securely dated book by dutch printers is. Jikji is the worlds first book ever printed by the movable metal type made in goryeo dynasty of korea. Gutenberg bible download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Dec 04, 2015 movable type was also invented in china, and originally used wood. Gutenberg s bible was in latin, the language of the church. Gutenbergs system of casting individual metal type. In a traditional printing press, small metal pieces with raised backwards letters, known as movable type, are arranged in a frame, coated with ink, and applied to a piece of paper. May 15, 2012 printed books existed nearly 600 years before gutenbergs bible. In 1440, while still living in strasbourg, gutenberg is believed to have revealed his printing press secret in a book. Before gutenberg, books were either copied out by hand on scrolls and.
Ten bits of trivia about the gutenberg bible, a book created by. Heres a short film showing how a book was printed using movable type in 1942. The greatest invention, movable metal type printing and jikji. The high quality and relative affordability of the gutenberg bible introduced movable metal type to europe and established it as the preferred method of printing.
The first hand written english language christian holy bible was 80, and the first book ever printed on a movable type printing press was the gutenberg bible, 1454, but that was written in latin. The printing technique using movable metal type invented by gutenberg dominated the printing industry until the introduction of the digitally based printing that is in use today. Gutenberg bible project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. His invention of metal movable type in 1450 has accurately been called an invention that changed the world. The first known book printed with movable metal type. Its estimated there were about 30,000 books in all of europe before gutenbergs press. Johann gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1450s, and the first book to ever be printed was a latin language bible, printed in mainz, germany. The power of communication gutenberg didnt make much money from his bible or his new printing process. The chinese actually printed from movable type in 1040, but later discarding the method. What is for sure is that gutenbergs work, published on his printing press, changed the world. What makes it important is that it is the oldest known book printed with movable metal type. It took gutenberg at least two years to complete his first book. It is a littleknown but undisputed historical fact that johannes gutenberg did not invent the printing press. It has been called europes editio princeps, europes first edition, because it was the first printed book to be read throughout europe.
It was the first major book produced in europe using moveable metal type stronger and easier than using wooden blocks that had come before. Johann gutenbergs bible, the first real book to be printed using the. Gutenberg s printing technology spread rapidly throughout europe and later the world. Carve a letter on the end of a steel bar, the punch. It s a good place to start our course on the history of the book because it introduces us to johannes gutenberg, the inventor of movable type, one of the most important innovations for printing books.
Why was the christian bible the first book to be printed with. Even before printing books from movable type, the chinese used wooden blocks to print budhist writings by hand on scrolls. It had great commercial potential, but it did not make gutenberg a rich man. In the case of gutenberg the letter would be a black letter style, not the roman shown in the above example. The jikji, which is a collection of buddhist teachings, was printed in cheongju, korea in 77, 78 years before the gutenberg bible. Gutenberg bible, the first complete book extant in the west and the earliest printed from movable type, so called after its printer, johannes gutenberg, who completed it about 1455 working at mainz, ger. Published in mainz around 1454, the gutenberg bible was the first major western publication to be printed with movable metal type, ushering in a whole new age of knowledge distribution through massproduced books. Sep, 2017 his invention of metal movable type in 1450 has accurately been called an invention that changed the world. Gutenbergs bible was a marvel of technology and a beautiful work of art. The book that changed the world a complete reprint of the revolutionary gutenberg bible the printing press has been called the greatest invention of the second millennium. Even before printing books from movable type, the chinese used. The efficiencies of using movable type and a printing press to produce books quickly paved the way for the mass production of books and other reading material, including printed.
Johann gutenberg and invention of the printing press. Johann gutenbergs bible, the first real book to be printed. It marked the start of the gutenberg revolution and the age of the printed book in the west. The gutenberg bible library of congress bible collection. Gutenbergs printing press and the availability of inexpensive. From mainz, the location of gutenbergs printing office, the new technology spread all over europe and the world. It is therefore a monument that marks a turning point in the art of bookmaking and consequently in the transition from the middle ages to the modern world. Biography of johannes gutenberg, german inventor of the printing. The exact date that johannes gutenberg published his first book the bible isnt clear, although some historians believe the first section was published on september 30, 1452. Choose from 234 different sets of gutenberg flashcards on quizlet. As book printingpublishing became a business, the first book trade fair was established in frankfurt, germany, not far from where gutenberg printed his first bible. Also known as the 42line bible, it was printed in mainz between 1450 and 1455 by johann gutenberg and his business partner johann fust.
Although his early years are well documented, virtually nothing is known of his activity in the crucial years between 1449 and 1454the years in which the bible of 42 lines was. The threevolume work, in latin text, was printed in 42line columns and, in its later stages. The first hand written english language christian holy bible was 80, and the first book ever printed on a movabletype printing press was the gutenberg bible, 1454, but that was written in latin. His later bibles were printed in such a way as to have.
Many will think of germany because many people believe that gutenbergs 42line bible was the oldest metal type printed book, made in 1455 in germany. Gutenbergs name does not appear on any of his work, but he is generally accredited with the worlds first book printed by movable type. Gutenbergs mechanical printing press could crank out the books at an unheard of speed. His introduction of mechanical movable type printing to europe started the printing revolution and is regarded as a milestone of the second millennium, ushering in the. The korean invented movable metal type printing in 77, 78 years earlier than the gutenberg bible.
But neither printing nor movable type was actually invented by johannes gutenberg, nor did he print the first book. We made an exciting acquisition this week, a single leaf from a copy of the gutenberg bible, the first substantial book produced using movable type. The gutenberg bible was the first book printed in western europe using johann gutenbergs movable metal type printing press. Many historians think gutenbergs secret was his idea of a printing presspresumably based on a winepressusing movable metal type.
The gutenberg bible of 1454 two volumes facsimile edition. Feb 24, 2017 the gutenberg bible was the first book printed in western europe using johann gutenbergs movable metal type printing press. Metal movable type was later used in korea to create the jikji, a collection of zen buddhist teachings. Why was the christian bible the first book to be printed with movable type during the renaissance. Johann gutenberg holds the distinction of being the inventor of the movabletype printing press. But type made of wood did not always print the letters clearly and distinctly, so gutenberg gave up wood types and tried metal types. Gutenbergs bible was in latin, the language of the church. Gutenbergs early printing process, and what texts he. Johannes gutenberg changed history when he invented movable metal typeset printing, and this revolutionized the way people engaged with the bible. It marks a turning point in the art of bookmaking and in the shift to. Johannes gutenberg changed history when he invented movable metal typeset printing, and this revolutionized.
The book is valued and revered for its high aesthetic and artistic qualities as well as its historic significance. Gutenbergs bible was the first large book printed with movable metal type in europe. But as you read at the beginning of this chapter, he did change the world. However, he is not the inventor of the printing press, or of printing ink, or even of moveable type. Gutenbergs 42line bible is the first book printed in europe with movable types. Though celebrated in 15th century oral histories as the undisputed inventor of printing with movable type, gutenberg never signed his name to a single printed book. Before gutenberg, woodcut printing and early forms of movable type printing had been mastered in asia, but had yet to reach europe. The bible was in 3 volumes of 1,282 unnumbered pages. Unique to his invention were a durable type metal alloy, an oilbased ink that adhered well to metal type and transferred well to vellum or paper, and a press for applying firm even pressure to printing surfaces. Of the originally 30 bibles printed on vellum only four have survived in their complete form with all their 1282 pages. Within the span of only two years, luthers tracts were distributed in 300,000 printed copies throughout germany and europe. Johann gutenberg holds the distinction of being the inventor of the movable type printing press. The gutenberg bible download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Johann gutenbergs bible, the first real book to be.
It is universally acknowledged as the most important of all printed books, writes margaret leslie davis, author of the recently published the lost gutenberg. It effectively marked the end of handmade book printing and binding, and helped usher in the modern age. Gutenbergs bibles were surprisingly beautiful, as each leaf gutenberg printed was later colorfully handilluminated. Martin luthers 95 theses which sparked off the reformation in a print edition from 1522. This worked much better, and gutenberg was progressing well toward the completion of the first book ever printed by movable type. The jikji was first published in 77, some 75 years before johannes gutenberg began. Jan 30, 2012 we made an exciting acquisition this week, a single leaf from a copy of the gutenberg bible, the first substantial book produced using movable type. Movable metal type, and composing stick, descended from gutenbergs press. After he lost his lawsuit, gutenberg continued to print. Gutenberg, johann article about gutenberg, johann by the.
The use of movable type was a marked improvement on the handwritten manuscript, which was the existing method of book production in europe, and upon woodblock printing, and revolutionized european book making. Though the gutenberg bible was certainly the first mass produced printed work, it was hardly the first printed book nor was it even the first made using movable type. Johannes gutenberg, german craftsman and inventor who originated a method of printing from movable type. In 1455, gutenberg produced what is considered to be the first book ever printed. It has been called europe s editio princeps, europe s first edition, because it was the first printed book to be read throughout europe. Gutenberg bible wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The astounding story of one book s fivehundredyear odyssey. Much earlier, books such as the diamond sutra had been produced in china and korea with type made first of wood and later of bronze. Gutenberg s system of casting individual metal type. Unique elements of his invention are thought to have included a metal alloy that could melt readily and cool quickly to form durable reusable type, an oilbased. Gutenberg and his moveable type process design history. The gutenberg bible was among the earliest major books printed using mass produced movable metal type in europe. The completed book according to the library of congress may have been released around 1455 or 1456.
That letterform is struck into a softer metal bar made of copper, to create a matrix. The gutenberg bible also known as the 42line bible, the mazarin bible or the b42 was among the earliest major books printed using massproduced movable metal type in europe. Gutenbergs bible was neither the first book printed using moveable type, nor the first book he printed using moveable type. The worlds first movable type printing technology for printing paper books was made of porcelain materials and was invented around 1040 ad in china during the northern song dynasty by the inventor bi sheng 9901051. Printed books existed nearly 600 years before gutenbergs bible. The threevolume work, in latin text, was printed in 42line columns and, in its later stages of production, was worked on by six compositors. Why was the christian bible the first book to be printed. This is because jikji was already published using movable metal type in korea in 77, 78 years before the gutenberg bible. Movable type was also invented in china, and originally used wood. The oldest book printed with movable type is not the.
Johann gutenberg was the inventor of the printing press. The oldest extant book printed with movable metal type, jikji, was printed in korea in 77 during the goryeo dynasty. The gutenberg press an invention that changed the world. It essentially introduced the printing press as it was to be known for hundreds of years to follow. He printed his text in the thick and elaborate gothic style familiar to readers of medieval manuscripts. The 42 line bible the number of lines per page, also known as the gutenberg bible or the mainz bible for the place where it was produced. The first gutenberg bible, printed in 1454 by johannes gutenberg, introduced the world to movable type, history tells us. May 12, 2016 learn about the history of printed books. The gutenberg bible is the first great book printed in western europe from movable metal type. The gutenberg bible also known as the 42line bible, the mazarin bible or the b42 was the first major book printed in the west using massproduced movable type.