Gutenberg Printing Press
Printing Press and a Changing World
The Development of Print Technology
In the mid-15th century Johannes Gutenberg invented a mechanical way of making books. This was the first example of mass book production.
In his workshop, he brings together the technologies of paper (brought from China to Italy in the 12th), oil-based ink (these had been around since the 10th century) and the wine-press (screw-type press that had been in use for hundreds of years, throughout Europe and Asia) to print books. The printing press is not a single invention. He brings together the technologies known for centuries before Gutenberg, but have not jet been used simultaneously. This invention was (as some say) developed in Prague and Holland, before Gutenberg.
Before the arrival of the printing press, books were made of vellum (calf or lamb skin) because of its durability. Vellum is extremely durable, but it costs a lot. For books that took more than a year to produce, paper was inappropriate, because it wasn't long lasting.
In the Far East, movable type and printing presses were known but did not replace printing from individually carved wooden blocks or movable clay type. The use of movable type in printing was invented in 1041 …show more content…
In this year he started a partnership with Johann Fust, who lent him money to finance the production of a Bible. Because of the popularity of the Gutenberg Bibles (the first mass-produced work, starting in 1452) and effective method of printing , there was a boom in book production in Evrope. But Gutenberg was a bad businessman, and made little money from his printing system. In 1455, just before he completed this project, Johann Fust sued Gutenberg and took possession of his printing equipment and the almost completed edition of the Bible. Fust gradualy entered into partnership with Peter Schoffer (Gutenberg's assistant) and finally completed this project in 1456. Fust also started marketing the
The Development of Print Technology
In the mid-15th century Johannes Gutenberg invented a mechanical way of making books. This was the first example of mass book production.
In his workshop, he brings together the technologies of paper (brought from China to Italy in the 12th), oil-based ink (these had been around since the 10th century) and the wine-press (screw-type press that had been in use for hundreds of years, throughout Europe and Asia) to print books. The printing press is not a single invention. He brings together the technologies known for centuries before Gutenberg, but have not jet been used simultaneously. This invention was (as some say) developed in Prague and Holland, before Gutenberg.
Before the arrival of the printing press, books were made of vellum (calf or lamb skin) because of its durability. Vellum is extremely durable, but it costs a lot. For books that took more than a year to produce, paper was inappropriate, because it wasn't long lasting.
In the Far East, movable type and printing presses were known but did not replace printing from individually carved wooden blocks or movable clay type. The use of movable type in printing was invented in 1041 …show more content…
In this year he started a partnership with Johann Fust, who lent him money to finance the production of a Bible. Because of the popularity of the Gutenberg Bibles (the first mass-produced work, starting in 1452) and effective method of printing , there was a boom in book production in Evrope. But Gutenberg was a bad businessman, and made little money from his printing system. In 1455, just before he completed this project, Johann Fust sued Gutenberg and took possession of his printing equipment and the almost completed edition of the Bible. Fust gradualy entered into partnership with Peter Schoffer (Gutenberg's assistant) and finally completed this project in 1456. Fust also started marketing the