We visited the Gutenburg press Museum today, a place which holds the oldest collection of the history of printing and development of books as we know them. I was impressed that they hold the development of printing from different cultures. There are four floors of artefacts and items. We allowed two hours, but this was def not enough time to see everything and take in the astounding inventions which changed the face of the written word.
Johann Gutenburg invented the moveable printing press 500 years ago, something that revolutionised the speed and accuracy of spreading the written word amongst the literate. Of course, at the time, about the only thing that was distributed was the bible, which until his invention came around had to be hand printed, page by page, but monks with a squint.
Its incredible to think that with this one invention, it revolutionised the entire world. Economically and socially, the advent of a printing press allowed the spread of literature and learning, paving the way for the modern world. The increase of literacy bolstered up the middle class, ensuring that learning was no longer held exclusively by the upper and royal classes.
The photo above is of a hymn book from the 15th century. That blows my head off.. So beautiful.
Something I hadn't realised is that although every Gutenburg bible was printed exactly the same - each was individual and unique. The margins and paragraph letters and colouring were drawn and painted in by monks to order.
An example of the intricate designs painted in medieval bibles.
Morgan and Lilly were lucky enough to be chosen to help out with the one of the old ( 300 years old) printing presses.
Here they are pulling the press downward onto the metal casted letters.
Here is the finished product, which we were given to take home - W00T!!
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