Gutenberg Bible

Timeline

1. c. 1450–1455Mainz · MainzIn his Mainz workshop Gutenberg printed a 42-line Latin Bible using metal movable type, oil-based ink, and a screw press, producing about 180 copies, on both parchment and paper, marking the birth of the movable-type printed book in the West.
2. 1461–1470Europe · EuropeAfter printing, Gutenberg Bibles spread through commercial networks to monasteries and noble libraries in Germany, France, England, and elsewhere, where scriptoria hand-painted initials and borders for each copy, creating distinctive library versions.
3. c. 1470Europe · EuropeThe Gutenberg Bible became an iconic artifact of the printing revolution and the acceleration of knowledge dissemination, inspiring the rise of printing workshops across Europe in the late 15th century; surviving copies remain core specimens for the study of book history and cultural heritage.