The Morgan Gutenberg Bible Online

Introduction

The Morgan Library & Museum is the only institution in the world to possess three copies of the Gutenberg Bible, the first substantial book printed from movable type in the West. Fifty copies survive today in varying states of completeness from an edition originally of around 160–180 copies, of which perhaps three quarters were printed on paper, one quarter on vellum. Other copies survive only as fragments. The Morgan has one copy on vellum (PML 13 & 818) and two copies on paper, one in two volumes (PML 19206–7) and another in one volume (PML 12), containing only the Old Testament. This presentation features digital images of the Old Testament copy along with commentary on its history and significance.