Boekdrukkunst johannes gutenberg biography

Johannes Gutenberg started experimenting with printing by In , Gutenberg obtained backing from the financier, Johann Fust, whose impatience and other factors led to Gutenberg's loss of his establishment to Fust several years later. He was the third son of Freile zum Gensfleisch and his second wife, Else Wirick zum Gutenberg, whose maiden name Johann later adopted.

There is little recorded history of this early life, but local records indicate he apprenticed as a goldsmith while living in Mainz. Already familiar with bookmaking, Gutenberg perfected small metal type.

Johannes gutenberg birth and death

Infinitely more practical than carving complete wood blocks for printing, each type was a single letter or character. In , Gutenberg moved back to Mainz and by was operating a print shop. He had borrowed guilders from local financier Johann Fust to purchase specific tools and equipment needed for his unique typography method. However, by , Gutenberg was still unable to pay the debt and Fust sued.

Court records are sketchy, but scholars believe that while the trial was going on, Gutenberg was able to print his masterpiece, the "Forty-Two-Line" Bible, now known as the Gutenberg Bible. Peter Schoeffer, Fust's son-in-law, who had testified against him during the trial, now joined Fust as a partner in the business.