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 BERLINER, Ald and SIMON
Jean Guttenberg de Mayence Inventeur de l"Imprimerie. 1436 à Strasbourg
Strasbourg: Published by Simon fils, circa 1836. Lithograph. Portrait by Simon fils, calligraphic border executed by Ald. Berliner. Printed on wove paper. In excellent condition with the exception of being slighly trimmed. Some very marginal foxing in margins. Small tear on bottom right corner. Unevenly trimmed on sides of sheet. Sheet size: 19 ½ x 14 inches.
A stunning calligraphic portrait of Johann Gutenberg the inventor of the printing press.
Johann Gutenberg (1400?-1468), was a pioneer in the use of movable type, and is credited with the invention of the printing press. Detailed records of Gutenberg's life and work are scant since his name does not appear on any of the works attributed to him. He was born around 1400 in Mainz, where he trained as a gemstone cutter and goldsmith. In 1438, after moving to Strasbourg, Gutenberg entered into a partnership with Andreas Dritzehn, which enabled him to conduct experiments in printing. After returning to Mainz he formed another partnership, with the German merchant and moneylender Johann Fust, in which he set up a press. He then began the printing of a large Latin Bible, which would come to be known variously as the Gutenberg Bible, Mazarin Bible, or 42-Line Bible. In 1455 Fust demanded repayment of the money he had invested in the enterprise which led to a subsequent lawsuit against Gutenberg in which he surrendered his share of the firm. Following his break with Fust, Gutenberg continued printing with the aid of the German statesman Adolph II, who became his patron. Gutenberg's contribution to the development of mechanical printing remains unrivalled and he is credited with being the father of modern printing.
#4817 $900.00  
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