The earliest dated printed book, known as the diamond sutra, was produced in. Most gutenberg bibles contained 1,286 pages bound in two volumes, yet almost no two are exactly alike. If you ve ever used a rubber stamp, its the same idea except using. The jikji was first published in 77, some 75 years before johannes gutenberg began churning out his bibles in mainz, germany. Though the gutenberg bible was certainly the first mass produced printed work, it was. Books and other printed matter consequently became available to a wide general audience, greatly contributing to the. Gutenberg was able to convince the wealthy moneylender johann fust for a loan of 800 guilders. Johann gutenberg holds the distinction of being the inventor of the movabletype printing press. This revolution entailed not simply a change in the world of literature but. Suddenly, texts could be produced faster, in larger numbers, and at a lower cost than ever. Its estimated he printed 180 copies of the 1,300paged gutenberg bible, as many as 60 of them on vellum. The first gutenberg bible, printed in 1454 by johannes gutenberg.
Gutenbergs masterpiece, and the first book ever printed in europe from movable type, is the fortytwoline bible, completed no later than. In 1450 gutenberg obtained backing from the financier, johann fust, whose impatience and other factors led to gutenbergs loss of his establishment to fust several years later. Printed books existed nearly 600 years before gutenbergs. The oldest book printed with movable type is not the gutenberg. Gutenberg publishes the worlds first printed book awesomestories. Johannes gutenberg is often credited as the inventor of the printing press in 1454. Born as johann gensfleisch john gooseflesh, he preferred to be known as johann gutenberg john beautiful. If youve ever used a rubber stamp, its the same idea except using. The chinese actually printed from movable type in 1040, but later discarding the method. But every schoolchild can tell you the first book ever printed, and.
In 1455, gutenberg produced what is considered to be the first book ever printed. The earliest mention of bi shengs printing press is in the book dream pool essays, written in 1086 by scientist shen kuo, who noted that. Of the 180 copies, some 5 were printed on paper, while the rest were made using vellum, a. Printed books existed nearly 600 years before gutenbergs bible. A printing press is a mechanical device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium such as paper or cloth, thereby transferring the ink. Documents had been printed in ancient china from engraved. Bought by james lenox in 1847, it was the first copy to be acquired by a united states citizen. Ten bits of trivia about the gutenberg bible, a book created by. By 1450, the press was in operation, and a german poem had been printed, possibly the first item to be printed there. Gutenberg bible the gutenberg bible was the first book printed on a printing press, but it was not the first book ever printed. 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. But he wouldnt have known then that this bible would be considered one of the most beautiful books ever printed. The first book that was printed and made available using this new.
Known today as the gutenberg bible, he printed between 150 and 180 copies that featured double columns of text and some of the letters in color. Peter schoffer, who became fusts soninlaw, also joined the enterprise. A copy of the gutenberg bible in the collection of the new york public library. Johannes gutenberg s printing press made it possible to manufacture large numbers of books for relatively little cost for the first time. It marked a dramatic improvement on earlier printing methods in which the cloth, paper or other medium was brushed or rubbed repeatedly to achieve the transfer of ink, and accelerated the process. Gutenberg used 300 letter blocks and 50,000 sheets of paper. Johannes gutenberg invented the printing press around 1440 and the holy bible, popularly known as gutenberg bible or 42line bible, is widely acclaimed as the first major book mass printed in europe with the movable metal type printing press tha. Chinese and korean inventors had been producing printed books for. The first thing to come out of gutenberg s print shop was the bible. Massive printed book collections also became a status symbol for the wealthy class. 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. The gutenberg bible was among the earliest major books printed using mass produced. He later started a second print shop, but its unlikely that he ever turned a profit off his most famous work.
It is a littleknown but undisputed historical fact that johannes gutenberg did not invent the printing press. But neither printing nor movable type was actually invented by johannes gutenberg, nor did he print the first book. Gutenbergs bibles were surprisingly beautiful, as each leaf gutenberg printed was later colorfully handilluminated. Though the gutenberg bible was certainly the first mass produced printed work.
What was the first book to be printed by the printing press. The gutenberg bible was among the earliest major books printed using massproduced. The first book printed on a printing press using movable type was the gutenburg bible printed by johannes gutenberg in germany in 1450. Johannes gutenberg invented the printing press around 1440 and the holy bible, popularly known as gutenberg bible or 42line bible, is widely acclaimed as. Johannes gensfleisch zur laden zum gutenberg was a german goldsmith. What is the first book ever written on a printing press. All that has been written to me about that marvelous man seen at.