description Gutenberg Bible Overview
The Gutenberg Bible represents a pivotal moment in printing history. Produced circa 1455 by Johannes Gutenberg utilizing movable type, it was one of the earliest examples of this revolutionary technology in Europe. Approximately 180 copies were printed, making it a significant artifact for scholars and historians studying early printing methods and religious texts. It is particularly valuable to those researching the transition from manuscript culture to mass-produced books.
insights Ranking position
Gutenberg Bible ranks #4 of 235 in the Artifact ranking, behind The Starry Night, ahead of Tutankhamun's Death Mask.
help Gutenberg Bible FAQ
Was the Gutenberg Bible the first book ever printed?
It was not the world's first printed book, since block printing and movable type existed earlier in East Asia. It was among the earliest major European books produced with movable metal type, around 1455 in Mainz.
How many Gutenberg Bibles still survive?
About 180 copies were reportedly produced on paper and vellum. Only several dozen substantially complete or fragmentary copies survive in libraries and collections today.
What language is the Gutenberg Bible written in?
It prints the Latin Vulgate, the version of the Bible widely used in medieval Western Christianity. Its typeface was designed to resemble the dense Gothic handwriting familiar to 15th-century readers.
Were Gutenberg Bibles completely made by machine?
The text was printed with movable type, but decoration remained partly handmade. Rubricators and illuminators added colored initials, headings, and ornament after the printed sheets left Gutenberg's press.
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