Johannes Gutenberg

Background

Gutenberg, the son of a patrician of Mainz, is credited to have started the Printing Revolution of the 15th and 16th centuries. His invention helped increase literacy in Europe and provided a major boost to the middle class.

Among his several inventions is a metal alloy that could melt and cool quickly to form a durable reusable type, a thick oil paint that adheres well to metal type and transfers well to paper, and a new press for applying firm and even pressure to printing surfaces. None of these features existed in the European technique used then for stamping letters on surfaces, hence Gutenberg’s printing press was considered a history-changing invention, making books widely accessible and ushering in an “information revolution.”

A bitter struggle existed between the guilds and the patricians of Mainz, leading to Gutenberg’s exile from the city and his move to Strassburg (now Strasbourg, France). There he engaged in such crafts as gem cutting and he also taught many pupils, partnering with Hans Riffe, Andreas Dritzehn, and Andreas Heilman.

The sudden death of Andreas Dritzehn led the deceased brothers to want to enter Gutenberg’s society or receive financial compensation. Gutenberg’s negative response to the two options led to the case being taken to court. There the judge ruled in favor of Gutenberg, but a little of his secret project was made public, as witnesses to this case talked about the use of lead, a press, cast iron molds, etc. In general, they were materials that the printers knew very well in the Gutenberg workshop. This revealed that Gutenberg had been perfecting an invention, which materialized in 1452 with the creation of the typographic printing press, an invention that he could see being shared around the world.