Gutenberg Bible

Definition

The Gutenberg Bible is the first major book 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.

Related terms

Incunabula: These are books, pamphlets, or broadsides that were printed—not handwritten—before 1501 in Europe. The Gutenberg Bible falls into this category.

Johannes Gutenberg: He was a German blacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe with his mechanical movable-type printing press.

Movable Type: This is a system of printing and typography that uses movable components to reproduce elements of a document (usually individual letters or punctuation).