Book Minute: Creating the Gutenberg Bible

The first major book to be printed on the Gutenberg press was the Bible. Printed in the mid-15th century, it was a copy of the Latin Vulgate and would have taken up to five years to complete. And of the approximately 180 copies printed-only 20 are known to survive today.
Each copy contained about 1,300 pages. Each page had as many as 2,500 characters, the type resembling the handwriting of the period and all set by hand! Illustrations were hand-painted by artisans, making each Bible unique.
Johannes Gutenberg’s press brought the Bible to the people in their own language, and by igniting the spread of information and ideas, it became a catalyst for the Protestant Reformation.
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[@deannamcmillan2149]

Ooooo. that looks pretty. I love the Bible. :)

[@jeffreymalloy589]

My research says 49 or so still exist, of which 20 or 21 are complete. The only thing all of them share is the black print text. Each one was individually illuminated/illustrated which made each copy unique on its own merit. Also it was sold loose leaf and you had to find your own illustrator and binder to complete your Bible. His major contribution was the moveable type he invented in order to produce the leaves. The press was actually a modified grape press for the making of wine. What he did was truly ingenious, with today's computers and typesetters and presses, I would not want to do it. Typing a whole Bible is itself a feat, even for an accomplished typist.