The Unintended Inspiration of Gutenberg’s Bible

In undertaking research for a new book, I’ve spent most of this week in Widener Library at Harvard University.  Every morning I climb a set of stairs to my favorite ‘hideaway’ in the reference room.  Half way up those stairs there is a door that opens into a beautiful walnut paneled room displaying rare, first edition books.  Holding the prominent place in the center of that room and locked securely in an airtight glass case rests a Gutenberg Bible–one of only 48 known to exist today.  As someone currently writing a book, this Bible represents a tremendous source of inspiration–but not for its’ traditional intention.

Being one of the original books to ever be printed on a moveable type printing press may serve as inspiration to some.  Billions of printed books have followed from the one you see pictured here.  Inspiration might also come from the shear beauty of the book–it resembles fine art more than a book for a casual reader.  Others may also draw inspiration from the priceless value of the book.  The last Gutenberg Bible to be sold was in 1985 for $5.4 million; and that wasn’t even a complete copy.  The estimate value today runs to over $30 million.  But beyond the book itself is a story and it is that story that provides me the greatest inspiration.

Johannes Gutenberg was born and buried in the German city of Mainz along the Rhein river.  His training as a blacksmith provided him the knowledge and skills to design and build the first moveable type printing press. Being from a wine-growing region, Gutenberg fashioned the printing press much like a wine press. With a loan from his brother-in-law, Gutenberg had constructed a workable press by 1450.  With the assistance from additional loans, Gutenberg printed about 180 copies of his now famous Bible by 1455; one of which I am looking at while I type this blog.  But Gutenberg’s Bible project was more expensive than originally projected and the slow sales of the expensive book prevented him from repaying his loans.  Consequently, he lost his printing shop and press and was to produce no more Bibles. In lieu of loan repayment, investor Johann Furst took over the printing shop, but gave no credit to Gutenberg for the Bibles or the invention and construction of the printing press.

As the popularity of the printing press grew, historians recognized that it was the development of the mechanical moveable type printing press–Gutenberg’s press–that ignited the Printing Revolution.  To this day, Gutenberg’s invention is widely regarded as the singularly most important event influencing the modern era of man. But when Gutenberg died in 1468, his contributions were largely unknown and unrecognized.  It would take another century before historians began crediting him with both the press and the beautiful Bibles.

In his lifetime, Gutenberg never realized the imprint he would leave, not just on paper, but on mankind.  And in that story, there is unintended inspiration from Gutenberg’s Bible.   In our daily work and life, we often have little understanding of the impact we have on others or the world.  But just because we don’t see it doesn’t mean it is not there.