 GUTENBERGBorn in 1394-99? - Died in 1468
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GUTENBERGBorn in 1394-99? - Died in 1468
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Johanne Gutenberg (YO hahn GOO tn berg) was born in Germany in the city of Mainz. His father was a merchant and worked with the mint where they made the coins. Gutenberg grew up learning a lot about goldsmithing. In 1411 there was political unrest in the area and more than a hundred families had to flee the city. He and his family moved to Strasbourg where his mother's family lived.
Around 1436 there is mention of his name in a court record. It seems he promised to marry a woman and something happened that he broke his promise. We don't know the outcome of it.
At one point in his life he was making what was called the "pilgrim-mirror"; small mirrors attached to a pin. People would pin them on their hats and then when they were looking at an exhibit of religious relics, the image would be caught by the mirrors and their friends at home would benefit. At least that's what they were told when they bought the mirrors.
Gutenberg was trying to invent a method of printing. He didn't have very much money left, but he would not give up. He continued to work on the great project.
While he was teen-ager working at his town's mint * ; the place where money was made, he got the idea for creating books by machine. Up until this time all the books had to be copied by hand. It was very slow, and it took a long, long time to make one book.
After the book was written, they would take a metal punch * and spell out the letters for the title on the front of the leather cover. Maybe this gave Gutenberg the idea for metal letters to write the words on the pages of the book.
His work at the mint helped him in making the metal letters for printing. The letters had to be the same height to look right.
Also at the mint he worked with a stamp press used to make government seals * . He used this knowledge to help him make a printing press. It is believed that the first item ever printed on the printing press was a German poem. Before the printing of the Bible he established a good business printing school books of Latin grammar. It is assumed he had two workshops, one for printing the Bible and another for all other print jobs.
Gutenberg Bible
Photo by Reid BakerWhen he needed money he went to John Fust, a moneylender * . He got the money to buy the material to make 46,000 pieces of movable type. He also hired 16 workers.
He was able to print the first Bible, the Gutenberg Bible. Then Fust, his moneylender accused Gutenberg of stealing some of the money. They went to court and Fust won. Gutenberg had to turn over the Bible printing workshop and half of all the printed Bibles. Fust also took Gutenberg's co-worker with him. All this was quite a blow to him.
Some of the first copies still exist today. They are among the world's greatest treasures.
The method he invented for printing remained unchanged for many years.
In his later life he was honored with the title of Hofmann which means "gentleman of the court". He was given a small pension and some yearly grain and wine. He died a highly respected person.
In 1900 the Gutenberg museum was established in his home city of Mainz. Also the International Gutenberg Society was started.
There is a project for the distribution of electronic books called the Project Gutenberg . You can find more than 75,000 books to read online. It is a great service for students and those who like to read.
Johann Gutenberg
English version
Biography of Gutenberg
from World of Biography
Gutenberg
at Wikipedia
(example of movable type)
The Gutenberg Bible
Johann Gutenberg Memorial
Johann Gutenberg and The Printing Press
By Bruce Koscielniak / Houghton-mifflin
Look at this book! If it had been published 600 years ago it would have been copied out by hand by a scribe in a monastery and probably would have taken months to produce. But thanks to Johann Gutenberg, in the fifteenth century modern printing was born and nowadays it can take only a few seconds to print a book. Gutenberg invented the printing press as well as a new type of ink and a new way to cast type. Open this book to learn the incredible story of Johann Gutenberg and the history of early printing and publishing. Bruce Koscielniak has crafted an informative and entertaining book (and we printed thousands of copies!) about one of the most important inventions of all time. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Ink on His Fingers
By Louise A. Vernon / Herald Press
John Gutenberg is working on printing the first Bible with type. Twelve-year-old Hands Dunne is planning on being a scribe and copying the Bible by hand. But circumstances change and he finds himself working in Gutenberg's shop as an apprentice printer. Soon, Hans finds himself in the middle of a type-stealing mystery. Herr Fust, the village banker, wants Gutenberg's type and tries every possible way to get his hands on it. Gutenberg is deep in debt and has borrowed from everyone in town. Gutenberg is sure that he will be able to pay everyone back one the Bible is printed, but he is running out of time. Will Hans, and the other pressmen be able to keep Herr Fust from getting the type? Will they be able to finish the Bible so many people will be able to read and learn from it?
The Story of Inventions, Second Edition
By Frank P. Bachman / Christian Liberty Press
Now updated, The Story of Inventions covers key innovations from the 15th through the 20th century. Divided into four sections: Power, Manufacturing & Production, Communications, and Transportation, chapters focus on the invention as well as the life of the inventor, weaving together true-life stories in a format enjoyable for young and old. Learn about the printing press, steel, computers, steamboats and other inventions that paved the way for the growth of our modern world. Comprehension questions follow each chapter. 280 pages, softcover. Upper elementary grades.
From Word Central's Student Dictionary
by Merriam - Webster
(Pronunciation note: the schwa sound is shown by ə)
mint
Function: noun
: a place where coins, medals, and tokens are made...
punch
Function: noun
a : a tool for piercing, cutting, or stamping or for driving a nail
b : a device or machine for cutting holes or notches (as in paper or cardboard)...
seal
Function: noun
: a device with a cut or raised design or figure that can be pressed or stamped into paper or wax to form a mark
(as for certifying a signature)...
moneylender
Pronunciation: 'mən-E-"len-dər
Function: noun
: one whose business is lending money...
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