GUTENBERG
MUSEUM – MAINZ
Printing Press Invention That Changed the World
“Blessed be he who invented writing…” is a motto you’ll
find within the Gutenberg Museum. Gutenberg, of course didn’t invent
writing, though you could posit that he invented reading – the
ability to pass the written word from individual to individual. What
you are now looking at, the internet, is a tidal change in society which
has and will change life in profound and still to be experienced ways,
much like the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes
Gutenberg in the 15th Century. From the introduction of printed books
in Europe can be traced the rise of the Renaissance, the Reformation
and the Age of Enlightenment. “What the world is today, good and
bad, it owes to Gutenberg”, wrote Mark Twain, who knew something
about writing.
Gutenberg Printing Work
Gutenberg
began his printing work in Strasbourg (see Strasbourg
Gutenberg),
but he was born
in Mainz. His exact birthdate is not certain, but sometime
about 1400, with much of his early life unknown. He moved with his family
to Strasbourg where he seemed to be involved in the smithing trade of
his father, but with an entrepreneurial bent, making metal mirrors for
religious pilgrims to Aachen to catch the light from Holy Relics, but
announced he would soon introduce a “secret” that had come
to him in a “ray of light”. In
1448 he moved back to Mainz, borrowed money from his brother-in-law and
set up his printing shop.
Before making his famed bible, Gutenberg used his press to print “Indulgences” for
the Catholic Church (see Martin
Luther at Worms). In 1448 he introduced
his 42 line bible in Frankfurt (see Frankfurt Book Fair), where a Cardinal praised that the letters
were so neat and legible that His Grace could read it with his glasses.
About 180 Gutenberg Bibles were printed. Two can be found at the Gutenberg
Museum in Mainz, others spread around the world (see Bodmer
Collection Geneva).
The
Gutenberg Museum in Mainz is one of the oldest printing museums in
the world.
The citizens
of Mainz founded the museum to pay homage
to their native son in 1900. The museum which collects and exhibits examples
of printing and writing as well as printing presses was first established
in the beautiful “Emperors House” ( Kurfürstliches
Schloss) on the main square of Mainz just opposite the great Cathedral
(see Mainz
Cathedral). The Renaissance building where Mozart once performed
is featured in many representations about the museum, but the actual
exhibits can be found in a modern museum structure behind it, built in
2000 for the 500th anniversary with the old building now housing the
administrative offices and library, and apparently a convenient spot
to park baby prams in the archway keeping the statue of the famous man
company while moms visit the café next
door in the museum complex.
Gutenberg Museum Collection
The
Gutenberg Museum features a collection of printing presses, covering
a couple
of centuries
of the development of printing, including early
hand presses from the 15th to 17th centuries as well as later ones.
A replica of the original Gutenberg Press, recreated from woodcuts,
has
been
set
up
in a reproduction
of
Gutenberg’s shop where regular demonstrations of the old printing
art are presented to wide eyed kids and fascinated adults several times
a day. Among the Gutenberg exhibits, the museum has on display two of
the Gutenberg Bibles, a Letter of Indulgence, and a fragment of the “Last
Judgment” which are some of the earliest examples of printing.
The vault strong room holds illustrated manuscripts, the color “Psalter
of Mainz” and the rare block books, printed from wooden blocks.
The five floors of the museum present the history of printing through
book covers, illustrations, printing and type-setting machines. Not only
is European writing represented but Asian and Islamic calligraphy and
printing as well.
Visiting the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz
The
museum exhibitions are open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday
11am to 3pm, closed on Mondays and public holidays. Admission
is €5 for adults, €2 for children 8 to 18 and a family ticket
for €10. The library for research is open on separate hours. Next
to the museum itself, the Gutenberg Printing Shop gives demonstrations
and printing courses. And don't leave the baby behind. © Bargain
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Gutenberg
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See Also:
MAINZ CITADEL FORTRESS & HISTORY MUSEUM
RHINE & MOSEL
WINE FESTIVALS BY RAIL
