Today In History: Gutenberg Bible Was Printed in 1457

OCEANSIDE, CA —The Gutenberg Bible is considered the first to be printed using movable type and among the rarest books in the world.

According to Wikipedia, The Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible, the Mazarin Bible or the B42) was among the earliest major books printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe. It marked the start of the "Gutenberg Revolution" and the age of printed books in the West.

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Thought to be among the most valuable books, it is revered for its historical significance and aesthetic and artistic qualities. 49 copies, or partial copies, still exist. Only 21 are complete. But, no complete copy has been sold since 1978.

Gutenburg was instrumental in the history of the printed book. His Bible had an influence on how future Bibles were printed. It is not known how many copies were printed, but scholars today think that examination of surviving copies suggests that somewhere between 160 and 185 copies were printed, with about three-quarters on paper and the others on vellum.

Visit Wikipedia for more interesting facts about the Gutenberg Bible

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