Gutenberg Bible

The Gutenberg Bible, the first book printed in Europe with movable type, was created in Mainz in 1453 by Johannes Gutenberg and Peter Schöffer. It consists of two volumes of 322 and 319 leaves, reproducing Saint Jerome's Vulgate. Gutenberg designed Gothic characters and printed 40 copies on parchment and 140 on hemp paper. The production took three years using manual processes and presses. The Gutenberg Bible, with 42 lines per page, is a milestone, currently valued at approximately 10 million dollars per complete copy. 49 copies have survived, preserved in various institutions, mainly in Europe. This work is an icon in the history of printing and bibliophilia.