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The Gutenberg Bible of 1454
The Book That Changed the World
A complete reprint of the revolutionary Gutenberg Bible
The printing press has been called the greatest invention of the second millennium. Published in Mainz around 1454, the Gutenberg Bible was the first major Western publication to be printed with movable metal type , ushering in a whole new age of knowledge distribution through mass-produced books.
Before Gutenberg, woodcut printing and early forms of movable type printing had been mastered in Asia, but had yet to reach Europe. Instead, each book had to be copied by hand in a long, labor-intensive process. Not only did Gutenberg’s innovation of mechanical movable type significantly speed up production without sacrificing quality, it irreversibly enriched public knowledge , pioneering mass communication and allowing people to access ideas and participate in discussions like never before. When it comes to radical revolutions in media, the Gutenberg Bible is up there with the Internet.
This fascimile edition derives from one of the very few surviving complete vellum Latin originals worldwide; the Göttingen Library edition , one of the most valuable books in the world, listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World program . All 1,282 pages of this artistic and technological masterwork are included, along with a companion book written by Stephan Füssel, Gutenberg-Chair at Mainz University, introducing Gutenberg, his transformative influence, and two important documents of the the Göttingen Model Book which was used to illuminate the Göttingen Library edition and the only surviving notary document by Ulrich Helmasperger, which records the history of this unique invention and its product, the Gutenberg Bible.
A complete reprint of the revolutionary Gutenberg Bible
The printing press has been called the greatest invention of the second millennium. Published in Mainz around 1454, the Gutenberg Bible was the first major Western publication to be printed with movable metal type , ushering in a whole new age of knowledge distribution through mass-produced books.
Before Gutenberg, woodcut printing and early forms of movable type printing had been mastered in Asia, but had yet to reach Europe. Instead, each book had to be copied by hand in a long, labor-intensive process. Not only did Gutenberg’s innovation of mechanical movable type significantly speed up production without sacrificing quality, it irreversibly enriched public knowledge , pioneering mass communication and allowing people to access ideas and participate in discussions like never before. When it comes to radical revolutions in media, the Gutenberg Bible is up there with the Internet.
This fascimile edition derives from one of the very few surviving complete vellum Latin originals worldwide; the Göttingen Library edition , one of the most valuable books in the world, listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World program . All 1,282 pages of this artistic and technological masterwork are included, along with a companion book written by Stephan Füssel, Gutenberg-Chair at Mainz University, introducing Gutenberg, his transformative influence, and two important documents of the the Göttingen Model Book which was used to illuminate the Göttingen Library edition and the only surviving notary document by Ulrich Helmasperger, which records the history of this unique invention and its product, the Gutenberg Bible.
1396 pages, Hardcover
Published July 5, 2018
22 people want to read
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September 28, 2024Saw an actual Gutenberg Bible in Mainz, Germany - without which we would have no GoodReads
July 10, 2018
Whether or not you believe that the words contained within this book are the words of God, it is a historical fact that this book is a piece of history. It's the first major book produced using Johannes Gutenberg's movable metal type printing press. Gutenberg's invention, arguably one of the greatest pieces of technology ever invented, not only allowed Christians to read and own a copy of the Bible, but forever revolutionized the way we disseminate information and learn.
This facsimile of a 1454 copy of the Gutenberg Bible is wonderfully reproduced, a work of art in its own right. Each page has been carefully reproduced with sharp details and legible print (or as legible as one who doesn't know Latin can make of it). It makes for a great addition to any bibliophile, theologian, history scholar, or technology lover's collection.
This facsimile of a 1454 copy of the Gutenberg Bible is wonderfully reproduced, a work of art in its own right. Each page has been carefully reproduced with sharp details and legible print (or as legible as one who doesn't know Latin can make of it). It makes for a great addition to any bibliophile, theologian, history scholar, or technology lover's collection.
July 1, 2021
This is, of course, the book that started the mass printing of books and the birth of the information age. It may not have been the first printing using moveable type, but this was the spark that ignited a revolution.
What’s so impressive is the beauty of the book. The clarity of the type and decorations are impressive – much nicer than I expected from one of the first books ever printed. I was expecting some kind of blurry photocopy, but this is much different. The font is rather larger than we’re used to, but that makes sense.
The introductory book is good, but it’s surprising how little is known about Gutenberg and these books. What he did, how he did it, who he worked with – these are all rather vague.
This of course, brings together one of the first printed books with the Latin Vulgate, one of the most important Bibles. I can’t read Latin, but as a book lover I wanted to own a facsimile of one of the most famous books ever. This is a beautiful set.
What’s so impressive is the beauty of the book. The clarity of the type and decorations are impressive – much nicer than I expected from one of the first books ever printed. I was expecting some kind of blurry photocopy, but this is much different. The font is rather larger than we’re used to, but that makes sense.
The introductory book is good, but it’s surprising how little is known about Gutenberg and these books. What he did, how he did it, who he worked with – these are all rather vague.
This of course, brings together one of the first printed books with the Latin Vulgate, one of the most important Bibles. I can’t read Latin, but as a book lover I wanted to own a facsimile of one of the most famous books ever. This is a beautiful set.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews