The Gutenberg Bible

Printed in Mainz in 1455 by Johann Gutenberg and associates, The Gutenberg Bible was the first major work printed in Europe from movable type. More than five hundred years after its creation, fewer than fifty copies of the original now survive. Many copies, including The British Library's lavish example, incorporated painted decoration in order to evoke the feel of a more traditional illuminated manuscript. Pages from the library's edition are reproduced in full color in this volume, and Martin Davies's text discusses how The Gutenberg Bible was created and published, as well as the role it played in the early spread of printing in Europe.