Inventor · 1400 – 1468

Johannes Gutenberg

Little-Known Facts

Despite his world-changing invention, Gutenberg gained little wealth and died with scant recognition.
Only a few dozen Gutenberg Bibles survive; they are among the most valuable books in the world.

Myths & Misconceptions

Did Gutenberg invent printing?

Printing existed earlier in East Asia; Gutenberg's innovation was a practical movable-type system for the Western alphabet, which transformed European book production.