How much is an original Gutenberg Bible worth?

The last sale of a complete Gutenberg Bible took place in 1978, when a copy went for a cool $2.2 million. A lone volume later sold for $5.4 million in 1987, and experts now estimate a complete copy could fetch upwards of $35 million at auction.

What is the history of the Gutenberg Bible?

The Gutenberg Bible was printed in Mainz in 1455 by Johann Gutenberg and his associates, Johann Fust and Peter Schoeffer. Only 48 copies are known to have survived, of which 12 are printed on vellum and 36 on paper. Twenty are complete, two of them at the British Library, one printed on paper (shelfmark C. 9.

How much is a Gutenberg Bible leaf worth?

Original Leaf from the Gutenberg Bible – Price Estimate: $40000 – $50000.

How many copies of the Gutenberg Bible exist?

There are 48 copies of the Gutenberg Bible still in existence, not all of them complete, some being only substantial fragments of one of the two volumes. Of these, 12 are printed on vellum. Only four vellum copies and 12 paper copies are complete. Both copies in the British Library are complete.

How many Gutenberg Bibles are there?

Can you buy a Gutenberg Bible?

THE BOOK THAT CHANGED THE WORLD. Considered a wonder in its own day and revered for its design and artistry, the Gutenberg Bible is now regarded one of the world’s most iconic artifacts. Only 21 complete copies survive and none have been offered for sale since 1978.

How old is the Gutenberg Bible?

The Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible or the Mazarin Bible) is a printed version of the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible that was produced using movable type by Johannes Gutenberg, in Mainz, Germany in the fifteenth century.

How many Gutenberg Bibles exist?

It is now thought that Gutenberg produced about 135 copies on paper and about 45 on vellum. There are 48 copies of the Gutenberg Bible still in existence, not all of them complete, some being only substantial fragments of one of the two volumes. Of these, 12 are printed on vellum.

Why is the Gutenberg Bible so valuable?

Why are they both important? Gutenberg’s invention did not make him rich, but it laid the foundation for the commercial mass production of books. The success of printing meant that books soon became cheaper, and ever wider parts of the population could afford them.

What kind of Bible is the Gutenberg Bible?

The Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible, the Mazarin Bible or the B42) was the earliest major book printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe.

What is special about the Gutenberg Bible?

The Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible, the Mazarin Bible or the B42) was the earliest major book printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe. It marked the start of the “Gutenberg Revolution” and the age of printed books in the West.

Do any Gutenberg Bibles still exist?

Who bought the Gutenberg Bible and lost it?

In 1987, though, the seminary — wanting money to train priests — sold No. 45 at auction to Maruzen Co. Ltd, of Tokyo, for $5.4 million. The new owners eventually digitized every page and then either gave — or quietly sold — the Bible to Keio University, where today it remains locked away in a vault and never exhibited.