German printer. Johannes Gutenberg leaves Mainz in 1430 and settles in Strasbourg, where, in association, it assembles a workshop of size of the precious stones, then around 1437, launches out in the manufacture of mirrors.
From 1436 and up to 1444 is held one secret working life during which, with its associates, it will develop a technique revolutionary impression: impression in mobile matters. It is a brought lawsuit with Gutenberg into 1444 which made it possible to bore this secrecy.
Xylography
After the copy of the books to the hand with the Middle Ages, the XV E century opens with knowledge, and asks it in books is more important: one publishes xylographic books, obtained by engraving of each page in hard wood and printed then with a rudimentary press. It seems that the Dutchman Laurens Janszoon d' Haarlem had the idea, around 1423 or 1437, to cut out characters in beech, in the manner of Chinese, who had already tested this process around 1040. The material used, too fragile, easily deformable and unstable according to the hygroscopy, marked the limit of the techniques using wood.
Metallography
As for the metallographic technique, it would have been born in Holland and consisted in striking a metal block using punches reproducing the characters, in the order of the text, then to run an alloy in fusion the plate in hollow, in order to obtain the text engraved in relief. The results were not worthy of hopes.
The typography
Since 1436, Gutenberg is thus interested in printing works and associates several associates; a silent partner, Jean Front: a goldsmith, Hans Dune, undoubtedly charged to engrave the punches; a carpenter, Conrad Sahspach, charged to build a press with arm; and two assistances, Andrès Dritzehem and Andrès Heilman; and it is in the greatest mystery that Gutenberg and its associates will work during several years with the focusing of the technique of impression per typography. To succeed, it is necessary to have of a form of characters in relief, of a suitable ink and a sufficiently convenient press of use not to slow down the operations of pulling exaggeratedly.
At the beginning, Gutenberg undoubtedly sought to improve the metallographic process; but it had to go obviously that the solution passed by the creation of natures (standards) independent, reusable ad infinitum (at least theoretically), and obtained in series per moulding rather than by engraving. Gutenberg uses an antimony and tin, lead alloy; the mould is engraved with the punch, and the molten metal is run. The manufacture of the types must be sufficiently precise so that the surface of the characters assembled in the form, i.e. the block of the assembled types, is located in the same plan; a new trade will appear, that of founder of characters.
The press
With regard to the press, the minutes of a lawsuit which opposes into 1439 the heirs to Dritzehem, deceased, with the others associated inform us a little about his design; it could be already relatively advanced, provided with a mobile carriage carrying the form, and with a frame support of the sheet to be printed. In any event, the press, designed in the middle of the XV E century, will remain unchanged during 300 years.
The ink used by Gutenberg was containing oil. As for the invention itself of the moulded types, mobile, it is undoubtedly located as soon as possible in 1440. In consequence of difficulties within association, Gutenberg is in 1448 in Mainz, where the financier Johann Fust authorizes an important loan to him, tools of Gutenberg being used as guarantee. The secrecy being always of setting, it seems that the whole of the process is at the point in 1450.
Professional reverses
But new difficulties, new lawsuit in 1455, with Johann Fust this time, and that Gutenberg loses. Here it is completely ruined, without tools and resources. The edition of the Bible, famous Biblia crowned latina, drawn with 300 specimens and comprising 1,282 pages - with 42 lines per page - the same year, undoubtedly prepared by Gutenberg but probably printed by Fust leaves. And, in 1457, the book of Psalms, Mainzer Psalterium, is published under the signatures of Fust and its son-in-law Peter Schöffer who had been the best pupil of Gutenberg; one takes place any to think that this work was however the work of Gutenberg.
In 1465, Adolphe II of Nassau, archbishop-voter of Mainz, ennoble Gutenberg and accommodates it in its residence of Eltwill; it allocates an annual treatment in the form of grains to him, of clothing and wine! It seems that Gutenberg hardly any more worked then.
As for its invention, it is spread very quickly in Western Europe; workshops of typography are created in the capitals and the big cities; for the remainder of the XV E century, one estimates at least 30 ' 000 the number of drawn different editions, that is to say 15 to 20 million printed specimens.