What was the Gutenberg Bible?
The Gutenberg Bible was the first major book printed in Europe using movable metal type. Johannes Gutenberg completed it in Mainz, Germany, around 1455.
Before printing, books were copied by hand, which took months or years. Gutenberg, a goldsmith, developed a system of metal letters that could be arranged, inked and pressed onto paper with a modified wine press. He also created an oil-based ink that stuck well to metal type.
The Gutenberg Bible was printed in Latin, with 42 lines per page in most columns, so it is also called the 42-line Bible. About 180 copies were printed, some on paper and some on vellum, made from animal skin. Decorations and colored initial letters were often added by hand.
Surviving copies
Only about 49 copies survive, some incomplete. They are held by libraries and museums, including the Library of Congress, the British Library and the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz. A complete copy is one of the most valuable books in the world, and none has been sold since 1978.
Did You Know?
Gutenberg's printing press spread rapidly, and by 1500, printers in Europe had produced millions of books.