Image taken from the Lighthouse Baptist Press Ministry website
Well, I’ve been reading a very good book, The Gutenberg Revolution by John Man, and I like the personable style John gives to his writing. I’ve learned a lot about Johann (sometimes spelled Johannes) Gutenberg, from Mainz, Germany.
In his thirties, Johann moved to Strasburg, and became secretive of his work. He was well off, not rich or aristocratic, and he had gained enough money to spend his time on his work, even though a financial crisis had hit the area, especially the city of Mainz.
Eventually he had three partners. During the time of this process one of the partners died, and he and the other partners were worried that it might cause their work to become known, and they took precautions to stop anyone finding out. This is an intriguing part of the story. Apparently Gutenberg and the remaining two partners succeeded in court against the dead man’s brothers’ lawsuit. They wanted in on the business deal their brother had been involved in with Gutenberg. Luckily the business partners had all signed a binding contract which stood up in court. This was very fortunate, according to John Man, as the two brothers were vexacious, and in fact sued each other later over their brother’s estate.
The partnership was originally set up for them to make money selling amulets, small metal hand–held mirrors, to pilgrims at a cathedral 250 kms away, at a religious festival held every 7 years. It was Johann’s idea that the business partners were backing with their capital. Johann’s family had been involved in the minting of coins, so although Johann had not worked in the mint, he was familiar with blending metals, creating intricate designs in the dyes to produce coins, and the making of presses.
They were set to rake in the dough on these religious objects. At that moment though, the plague, which had been in its height around the 1340-50’s, was threatening to return, so the festival was postponed for a year. Nevertheless, it is thought that this project helped Gutenberg hone his skills, and probably kept him financially afloat.
He moved back to Mainz due to civil unrest in Strasburg, and rented a house to set up another printing workshop, possible mainly because of a loan from Johann Fust.
His movable type printing press was further developed here, and historians agree that his work was the invention and perfection of a craft of exceptional beauty and detail in every aspect of the process. Johann Gutenberg displayed the talents of a patient master craftsman, artist, and businessman, able to inspire his workers to the same standards of excellence to which he strove. The quality of his ‘Gutenberg Bible’ indicates one who is a perfectionist.
After a few years, as he developed his workshop, he decided on the idea of printing the Bible. The church at this time was very interested in standardizing their sacred books. Gutenberg needed to create a popular product to pay back debts, as he had now borrowed again from Fust and opened another printing workshop in another rented house. At this point the invention was no longer secret, and Gutenberg and his team produced other printed works while working on the elaborate and time-consuming Bible project. To be continued…..
Resources
Man, J 2002, The Gutenberg Revolution, Hodder Headline, London.
Well, I’ve been reading a very good book, The Gutenberg Revolution by John Man, and I like the personable style John gives to his writing. I’ve learned a lot about Johann (sometimes spelled Johannes) Gutenberg, from Mainz, Germany.
In his thirties, Johann moved to Strasburg, and became secretive of his work. He was well off, not rich or aristocratic, and he had gained enough money to spend his time on his work, even though a financial crisis had hit the area, especially the city of Mainz.
Eventually he had three partners. During the time of this process one of the partners died, and he and the other partners were worried that it might cause their work to become known, and they took precautions to stop anyone finding out. This is an intriguing part of the story. Apparently Gutenberg and the remaining two partners succeeded in court against the dead man’s brothers’ lawsuit. They wanted in on the business deal their brother had been involved in with Gutenberg. Luckily the business partners had all signed a binding contract which stood up in court. This was very fortunate, according to John Man, as the two brothers were vexacious, and in fact sued each other later over their brother’s estate.
The partnership was originally set up for them to make money selling amulets, small metal hand–held mirrors, to pilgrims at a cathedral 250 kms away, at a religious festival held every 7 years. It was Johann’s idea that the business partners were backing with their capital. Johann’s family had been involved in the minting of coins, so although Johann had not worked in the mint, he was familiar with blending metals, creating intricate designs in the dyes to produce coins, and the making of presses.
They were set to rake in the dough on these religious objects. At that moment though, the plague, which had been in its height around the 1340-50’s, was threatening to return, so the festival was postponed for a year. Nevertheless, it is thought that this project helped Gutenberg hone his skills, and probably kept him financially afloat.
He moved back to Mainz due to civil unrest in Strasburg, and rented a house to set up another printing workshop, possible mainly because of a loan from Johann Fust.
His movable type printing press was further developed here, and historians agree that his work was the invention and perfection of a craft of exceptional beauty and detail in every aspect of the process. Johann Gutenberg displayed the talents of a patient master craftsman, artist, and businessman, able to inspire his workers to the same standards of excellence to which he strove. The quality of his ‘Gutenberg Bible’ indicates one who is a perfectionist.
After a few years, as he developed his workshop, he decided on the idea of printing the Bible. The church at this time was very interested in standardizing their sacred books. Gutenberg needed to create a popular product to pay back debts, as he had now borrowed again from Fust and opened another printing workshop in another rented house. At this point the invention was no longer secret, and Gutenberg and his team produced other printed works while working on the elaborate and time-consuming Bible project. To be continued…..
Resources
Man, J 2002, The Gutenberg Revolution, Hodder Headline, London.
