December 29 2025-January 4 2026: The Old Testament

In the beginning was the Word. The beginning of the printed word came with the Gutenberg Bible, the first major European book printed using metal movable type. Similar books were printed in Korea nearly a century earlier. Little is known about Johann Gutenberg himself. Around 1450, he likely began preparing for this large printing project, setting each letter by hand. By 1454 or 1455, the first copies appeared. They sold quickly for about 30 florins, which was equal to three years’ wages. About 180 copies were printed, and only 21 complete copies remain today.