Gutenberg Bible

The Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible) was the first complete book printed using the Gutenberg Press (it's earlier publications included primarily pamphlets and religious literature). It is important to note that this is not the first printed book. Printing techniques using wooden, clay, or ceramic type originate from China and spread throughout Asia long before it reached Europe. The Gutenberg Bible is notable because it is the first book printed using moveable metal type alongside Gutenberg's more efficient press technology.

About the Printer

Johannes Gutenberg.

Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the Gutenberg Press, was born in Mainz, Germany around 1397 and worked as a goldsmith in Strasbourg, France. His expertise in melting and reshaping metal aided him in his later ventures. In 1438, some of his colleagues, namely Hans Riffe, Andreas Dritzehn, and Andreas Heilmann, became aware that he was working on something secret, and demanded they be made partners due to the advances they had given Gutenberg for his work. A contract was formed between the four men that made them associates, not partners, who would be compensated in the case of his death. Disgruntled, the men challenged this in court but lost, although it was now public knowledge that Gutenberg was working on something in private. By 1436 he had amassed a large sum of funding and disappeared for a few years to work. In 1448, using funds provided by banker Johann Fust, Gutenberg started a press and foundry, which allowed him to experiment with metal type. Unfortunately, Fust expected a quicker return on investment than Gutenberg's perfectionism allowed for. Gutenberg eventually finished the product, and produced the aforementioned Bible, but not fast enough for Fust. In 1455 Fust won a suit against Gutenberg and forced him to pay a hefty sum. Fust also took many of Gutenberg's printing assets including the Bible, and continued to print with the help of Peter Schoeffer, his son-in-law and one of Gutenberg's former employees.

Design and Production

The Gutenberg Bible lying on display in the New York Public Library.

The Gutenberg Bible was meticulously designed to reflect and imitate the form of traditionally hand-printed copies of the Bible through careful selection of type, format, and aesthetic. This had the two-fold benefit of offering a cheaper alternative to the hand-printed Bible without depreciating its value in the eyes of the customer. It was called the 42-line Bible for its 42-lines of text per page, which were given wide margins and formed with ornate metallic type that was designed to echo earlier traditional copying techniques. The project was launched in 1450, and it was printed in 1456 in two volumes. Over 100,000 pieces of type were used to print the Bible, which took over half a year, and the typesetting took up to two years. A total of 180 copies were printed and bound during its printing run. Each copy contained 1,282 pages, which would have required a total of 230,000 passes, which would require over 330 working days. However, when compared with hand-printing, this was still far more efficient, as it could take an experienced scribe up to three years for a single copy, while the Gutenberg Press allowed for the printing of 180 copies in six years. Despite the fact that the Gutenberg Bible was much more affordable than earlier hand-printed copies, it was still quite expensive and primarily purchased by monasteries and universities for their libraries and collections.

Relevance and Lasting Significance

The Gutenberg Bible was the first book produced using moveable metal type, courtesy of Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. His work was considered vital to the development of modern printing technologies and capabilities. The Gutenberg press made the process of printing and disseminating texts and ideas far more efficient and wide-reaching. Subsequently, the Gutenberg Bible, being the first book printed using moveable type, is an artifact both of religious and technological significance. Only 49 complete copies have survived since the original printing, and they are revered as works of art, history, and culture.