Gutenberg Dies: Printing Press Creator Changes World
Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press around 1440, borrowed heavily to build it, and was sued by his financial backer, Johann Fust, who won the lawsuit and walked off with the press and most of the type. Gutenberg kept going with a new workshop. The Bible he printed — the Gutenberg Bible, 180 copies, two volumes, 1,282 pages — is one of the most valuable books in the world. He died in 1468, having received a modest pension from the Archbishop of Mainz. The press had already spread to Italy, France, and Spain. Within 50 years of his death, more books had been printed than in all of European history before him.
February 3, 1468
558 years ago
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