Gutenberg, johann definition of gutenberg, johann at. Which book is the first book printed by a printing press. The diamond sutra, a buddhist book from dunhuang, china from. Text and illustrations were done by hand, a very timeconsuming process, and only the wealthy and educated could afford them. Though the gutenberg bible was certainly the first mass produced printed work, it was hardly the first printed book. No one knows when the first printing press was invented or who invented it, but the oldest known printed text originated in china during the first millennium a. The chinese actually printed from movable type in 1040, but later discarding the method. Printed books existed nearly 600 years before gutenbergs bible. There are many statues of gutenberg in germany, including the famous one by bertel thorvaldsen 1837 at gutenbergplatz in mainz, home to the eponymous johannes gutenberg university of mainz and the gutenberg museum on the history of early printing. The first book printed on a printing press using movable type was the gutenburg bible printed by johannes gutenberg in germany in 1450. Books and other printed matter consequently became available to a wide general audience, greatly contributing to the spread of literacy and education in europe.
Gutenbergs masterpiece, and the first book ever printed in europe from movable type, is the fortytwoline bible, completed no later than 1455. If you find project gutenberg useful, please consider a small donation, to help project gutenberg digitize more books, maintain our online presence, and improve project gutenberg programs and offerings. Gutenbergs first major print work was the 42line bible in latin, printed probably between 1452 and 1454 in the german city of mainz. Books printed prior to 1500 are known as incunabula. The gutenberg bible was among the earliest major books printed using massproduced movable metal type in europe. In germany, around 1440, goldsmith johannes gutenberg invented the printing press, which started the printing revolution. The gutenberg bible was among the earliest major books printed using. Johannes gutenberg 14001468is said to be the inventor of the printing press, although the earliest printed book known is the diamond sutra printed in china.
Books have been around for nearly 3,000 years, but until johannes gutenberg invented the printing press in the mid1400s they were rare and hard to produce. These became incredibly popular and a total of 200. Gutenberg, johann definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. No one knows when the first printing press was invented or who invented. It is an edition of the latin vulgate printed in the 1450s by johannes gutenberg in mainz, in presentday germany. Johann gutenberg was the inventor of the printing press. The gutenberg press an invention that changed the world. Its estimated there were about 30,000 books in all of europe before gutenbergs press. What was the first book to be printed by the printing press. Printed books existed nearly 600 years before gutenbergs. Other ways to help include digitizing, proofreading and formatting, recording audio books, or reporting errors. The book is valued and revered for its high aesthetic and artistic qualities as well as its historic significance.
Modelled on the design of existing screw presses, a single renaissance printing press could produce up to 3. After gutenberg lost a lawsuit against his investor johann fust, fust put gutenbergs employee peter schoffer in charge of the print shop. The first precisely datable printing is the gutenbergs 31line indulgence. Though the gutenberg bible was certainly the first mass produced printed work, it was. The first book printed on a printing press using movable type.
By 1450, the press was in operation, and a german poem had been printed, possibly the first item to be printed there. No one knows when the first printing press was invented or who invented it. Johannes gutenberg is often credited as the inventor of the printing press in 1454. Johannes gutenberg s printing press made it possible to manufacture large numbers of books for relatively little cost for the first time. The first books to ever be printed on gutenbergs press was his, now famed, gutenberg bible.
Schoffer made use of gutenbergs press as soon as it was acquired. It marked the start of the gutenberg revolution and the age of printed books in the west. But neither printing nor movable type was actually invented by johannes gutenberg, nor did he print the first book. Demonstration on the only working model of a gutenberg printing presscrandall historical printing museum. Books were printed before gutenberg invented his printing press and recent discoveries brought new suprises in the history of book printing. Explore seven fascinating facts about one of the rarest and most influential books in world history. What is the first book ever written on a printing press. Even before printing books from movable type, the chinese used wooden blocks to print budhist writings by hand on scrolls. It is a littleknown but undisputed historical fact that johannes gutenberg did not invent the printing press.
38 159 970 1351 417 711 969 324 471 1420 638 790 1467 1368 70 526 814 113 480 142 425 1083 856 496 354 973 509 729 1177 892 1447 725 689