Pardon the spoonerism in the title, but it seemed appropriate. This week, the mighty Google is celebrating the achievements of Johannes Gutenberg, with its customary snappy illustration when you open the search engine, linking to a search result page about him. Gutenberg started the whole print revolution, around 1440 AD.
 |
| Open Google today and you see this. Gutenberg lived from 1400-1468 AD |
While Gutenberg did not 'invent printing' as many believe, he did make enormous improvements to moveable type and the printing press, enabling the mass production of books, the expansion of literacy and, some say, facilitated the Rennaisance in Europe. Printing-to-paper using woodblocks was used in China and Korea at least from the 8th century.
 |
| The real Johannes Gutenberg |
Why Google is 'celebrating Gutenberg' now is not entirely clear - there is no particular anniversary apparent - but who needs one to celebrate such a remarkable man and his impact on humanity?
Wiki has this to say about Gutenberg:
"Gutenberg in 1439 was the first European to use movable type. Among his many contributions to printing are: the invention of a process for mass-producing movable type; the use of oil-based ink for printing books; adjustable molds; mechanical movable type; and the use of a wooden printing press similar to the agricultural screw presses of the period. His truly epochal invention was the combination of these elements into a practical system that allowed the mass production of printed books and was economically viable for printers and readers alike. Gutenberg's method for making type is traditionally considered to have included a type metal alloy and a hand mold for casting type. The alloy was a mixture of lead, tin, and antimony that melted at a relatively low temperature for faster and more economical casting, cast well, and created a durable type."
Gutenberg is renowned for printing what became as the 42-line 'Gutenberg Bible' or Mazarin Bible after Cardinal Mazarin, although this was not his first printed work. Around 180 were printed in the first run, with about 49 copies known to have survived. If one sold today, a complete Gutenberg 42-line BIble would probably fetch around $50 million, but the last recorded sale was in 1978. The PVCA (formerly PIAA), has a fine facsimile copy in two volumes in its collection, produced in Italy in 1985, lavishly decorated and on as near to original rag paper as possible.
What would Gutenberg think of today's digital printing? We are sure he would be amazed - but would quickly grasp the processes and delight in creating books and signs.
That Google has recognised Johannes Gutenberg shows how important the online giant views print. Maybe one day Google founders (1998) Larry Page and Sergey Brin will be viewed in the same light - Googlebergs!
 |
| Pages from the PIAA's facsimile copy of the Gutenberg Bible |
