Die Gutenberg Bibel

Gutenberg’s Masterpiece the 42-line bible

The height of Gutenberg’s art of printing is considered to be the 42-line bible (B42). The 2-volume bible with a total of 1,282 pages was created with the help of a staff of 20. For this bible, Gutenberg cast 290 different shapes. The colorful initials and signs were added later by an illuminator and a columnist. Of the 180 copies, it is assumed that 150 were printed on paper, while the remaining 30 were printed on exquisite parchment.

Today, 48 copies remain in existence. Of these, two are owned by the Gutenberg museum. With this bible, that remains until today one of the most beautifully printed books of the world, Gutenberg proved that the "nova forma scribendi" was esthetically equal to hand-writings that were at their height at that time. The development of the art of printing brought about a major change in the world of writing. The spread of knowledge and scientific discoveries promoted scientific development and became a milestone in the historical progress towards modern times.

Copies of the
42-line bible today

Belgium

Mons

Denmark

Copenhagen

Germany

Aschaffenburg

Berlin

Frankfurt/Main

Fulda

Göttingen

Kassel

Leipzig

Mainz

Munich

Rendsburg

Schweinfurt

Stuttgart

Trier

France

Paris

Saint Omer

Great Britain

Cambridge

Edinburgh

Eton

London

Manchester

Oxford

Vatican City State

Vatican City

Japan

Tokyo

Austria

Vienna

Poland

Pelplin

Portugal

Lisbon

Russia

Moscow

Switzerland

Cologny

Spain

Burgos

Seville

USA

Austin/Texas

Cambridge/Mass.

New Haven/Conn.

New York/N.Y.

Princeton/N.J.

San Marino/Calif.

Washington/D.C.

Bibliothèque municipale,

1 volume, paper

Kongelige Bibliotek,

1 volume, paper

Hofbibliothek

2 volumes, Paper

Staatsbibliothek. Prussian cultural property,

2 volumes, Parchment

Stadt- u. Universitätsbibliothek,

2 volumes, Paper

Hess. Landesbibliothek,

1 volume, Parchment

Niedersächsische Staats- und

Universitätsbibliothek,

2 volumes, Parchment

Library of the Gesamthochschule,

1 volume, Paper

Universitätsbibliothek,

4 Bd., Parchment

Gutenberg-Museum,

2 volumes, Paper

Gutenberg-Museum,

1 volume, Paper

Bayerische Staatsbibliothek,

2 volumes, Paper

Kirchengemeinde St. Marien,

1 volume, Paper (Fragment)

Library Otto Schäfer,

2 volumes, Paper (Fragment)

Württemb. Landesbibliothek,

2 volumes, Paper

Mainz City Library,

1 volume, Paper

Bibliothèque Mazarine,

2 volumes, Paper

Bibliothèque Nationale,

2 volumes, Paper

Bibliothèque Nationale,

4 Bd., Parchment

Bibliothèque communale, 1 volume, Paper

University Library,

2 volumes, Paper

National Library,

2 volumes, Paper

Eton College Library,

2 volumes, Paper

British Library,

2 volumes, Paper

British Library,

2 volumes, Parchment

Lambeth Palace Library,

1 volume, Parchment

John Rylands Library,

2 volumes, Paper

Bodleian Library,

2 volumes, Paper

Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana,

1 volume, Paper

Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana,

2 volumes, Parchment

Keio-University

(previously: Maruzen Company),

1 volume, Paper

Österreichische Nationalbibliothek,

2 volumes, Paper

Bischöfliches Priesterseminar,

2 volumes, Paper

Biblioteca Nacional,

2 volumes, Paper

Leipzig Copy

Location: Russian national library

(previously. Lenin-Library),

2 volumes, Parchment

Leipzig Copy

Location: Library of the

Lomonosow University,

2 volumes, Paper

Bibliotheca Bodmeriana,

2 volumes, Paper

Biblioteca Pública del Estado,

2 volumes, Paper

Biblioteca Universitaria y Provincial,

1 volume, Paper

Harry Ransom Humanities Center,

University of Texas, 2 volumes, Paper

Widener Library, Harvard Univ.,

2 volumes, Paper

Beinecke Library, Yale Univ.,

2 volumes, Paper

Pierpont Morgan Library,

2 volumes, Paper

Pierpont Morgan Library,

1 volume, Paper

Pierpont Morgan Library,

2 volumes, Parchment

Public Library,

2 volumes, Paper

John H. Scheide Library,

2 volumes, Paper

Huntington Library,

2 volumes, Parchment

Library of Congress,

3 volumes, Parchment