Happy Guten-Birthday, Johann!

I really wanted to write this post this morning, but I just didn't have the time, darn it!

So, is June 24, 1400, really the birth date of Johann Gutenberg, the man who started that great revolution in 1450 with the development of the printing press and moveable lead type? Probably not. But that's the date that the people of Mainz, Germany decided upon, mainly because June 24th is the Feast of St. John the Baptist, and Johann is German for John, so what the heck, why not? Besides it's a great day for celebrating, and we have a lot to celebrate when it comes to good ol' Mr. Gutenberg.

Regardless of his motives (let's face it, the guy just really wanted to make a buck, and unfortunately some dude named Fust screwed him royally, so Gutenberg didn't exactly gain a lot financially from this creation), what Gutenberg created has had such a phenomenal impact on our world, it's hard to really grasp it.

We probably take things like books and reading matter for granted, but think about it: there was a time when efficient printing did not exist. Before printing with moveable lead type, books were pain-stakingly written by skilled artists; and only certain types of books were created, and only for the very fortunate limited few who were literate, and could afford such a treasure as a book. We may bitch about the price of a hard cover these days, but trust me, in 1400, a book was bloody expensive.

Gutenberg's printing press was not only the great educator, it was also the great equalizer. Books were cheaper to make, and you could make more of them in a shorter period of time. As more books became accessable to the lower classes, literacy increased. And well, you know the rest. Stuff like the Reformation and Martin Luther and then the Renaissance and so on until present day when we have great things like the internet and blogs.

So take a moment, if not tonight, then tomorrow or some day soon, and think about and read up on this amazing man and his wonderful creation, and how it has influenced our lives in so many ways. For those interested, I recommend the book The Gutenberg Revolution by John Man. It's a great source of information, and a good way to start finding out about this great man in history.

Happy Birthday, Johann, and happy birthday to your printing press, too!

Comments

[Jen]

Gutenberg was a Hero!!!!
I love your collages!!

[Robot Johnny]

Let's hear it for Johns!!!

[eliane]

The Dutch are a very stubborn people. Not only are we in the semi finals of the European soccer championships, we also have our own inventor of the art of printing:

http://www.psymon.com/koster/

[patricia]

Oh, way to ruin the party, huh??

Well, I'm not convinced yet. But I will read up on this guy. Be that as it may, thank you so much for showing me this amazing web site!

[Stephen Tiano]

Funny, finding your blog and, specifically, your Gutenberg entry, tonight. Earlier today, I just read a chapter of Simon Loxley’s *type The Secret History of Letters*, in which the author gets into some of the other, disputed claimants of the title, "He Who Invented Movable Type."

Rather reminded me of the disputes over who actually discovered America. Gutenberg still sounds the more plausible.

Anyhow, I like your blog. I’m going to link to it. I’d like to invite you to take a gander at mine. It’s at http://www.tianodesign.com/blog. If you think there’s common ground, perhaps you would link to mine.