The Gutenberg Bible
Woodcut of Mainz, 1493 (Courtesy of Nuremberg Chronicle)
Gutenberg belonged to an upper-class family in Mainz, Germany. He learned blacksmithing, jewel cutting, goldsmithing, and other valuable skills that helped him develop ideas for his invention. A lot of information is unknown about Gutenberg since he wasn't well-known during his time.
A Painting of Johann Fust (Courtesy of Public Domain)
Gutenberg worked on his invention with a businessman, Johann Fust, and Gutenberg's master printer, Peter Schoffer. He also had a trained group of printers who helped print, decorate, and sew on pages. Gutenberg had successfully printed 200 bibles in 5 years.
A Painting of Peter Schoffer (Courtesy of Public Domain)
Unfortunately, Gutenberg was in deep debt with Fust. Fust sued Gutenberg and takes credit for the press and Gutenberg's ideas. They continued printing bibles and owned one of Gutenberg's printing presses. Gutenberg didn't get the recognition he deserved and died a forgotten man in 1468.
View of a sixteenth-century goldsmith's shop. Engraved by Stephanus. 1576 (Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Woodcut of a printing shop by Jost Amman (Courtesy of University of Glasgow Library)
Mainz Psalter. Mainz by Johann Fust and Peter Schoeffer. 1457 (Courtesy of Royal Collection Trust)
Gutenberg Bible opened to the beginning of the Gospel of Luke. 1454 or 1455 (Courtesy of Library Of Congress)
Biblia latina (Bible in Latin). Mainz: Johann Gutenberg, 1455 (Courtesy of Library Of Congress)