Movable Type Collection

LETTER OF INDULGENCE, 1455. A letter of Indulgence (Ablass-brief) printed in 1455 by Johann Gutenberg on his first press

BANK NOTE PRINTING PRESS. Steam printing-press at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington, D. C
BANK NOTE PRINTING PRESS. Steam printing-press at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington, D.C. Line engraving, 1890

BANK NOTE PRINTING PRESS. Numbering machine at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington, D. C
BANK NOTE PRINTING PRESS. Numbering machine at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington, D.C. Line engraving, 1890

PRINTING OFFICE, 1861. Women employed as compositors at a printing office in London, England. Color engraving, 1861

Printer's workshop showing setting of type in background and puller and hand printing with finished pages ready for
5668953 Printer's workshop showing setting of type in background and puller and hand printing with finished pages ready for binding; (add.info)

Gutenburg printing the first page of the Bible, 1439, after a 19th century print
3252952 Gutenburg printing the first page of the Bible, 1439, after a 19th century print.; (add.info.: Gutenburg printing the first page of the Bible, 1439)

PRINTING PRESS, 1639. The first printing press brought to colonial America in 1639 by the English printer Stephen Daye, who set it up in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Map and diagram of the world, folio a4v of Orbis Breviarium by Zaccaria Lilio (d. c)
488665 Map and diagram of the world, folio a4v of Orbis Breviarium by Zaccaria Lilio (d.c.1522), Florence, 1493 (print & woodcut) by Italian School

De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium by Nicolaus Copernicus and
495373 De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium by Nicolaus Copernicus and De Libris Revolutionum Nicolai Copernici Narratio Prima by Georg Johan Rheticus, two works in one volume, Basel

The Setting-up of the First Printing Press in Bristol, 1546, in the Castle Precincts, c
2830941 The Setting-up of the First Printing Press in Bristol, 1546, in the Castle Precincts, c.1917-18 (oil on canvas) by Gotch, Thomas Cooper (1854-1931); Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

Mappa Mundi, the first printed map of the world, from Etymologiae
3482941 Mappa Mundi, the first printed map of the world, from Etymologiae by Isidorus Hispalensis, Augsburg: GAonther Zainer, 19 November 1472 (woodcut) by German School

Johannes Gutenberg: German inventor whos invention of the movable type printing
5669005 Johannes Gutenberg: German inventor whos invention of the movable type printing press started the printing revolution, from True Portraits by AndreThevet published in 1584 by Thevet

Frontispiece of Johannes Gutenberg from A Concise History of the Origin
XJF444326 Frontispiece of Johannes Gutenberg from A Concise History of the Origin and Progress of Printing by Philip Luckombe, published 1770 (engraving) by English School

The last tribulation of Gutenberg, the printer, on the verge of victory (litho)
979565 The last tribulation of Gutenberg, the printer, on the verge of victory (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The last tribulation of Gutenberg)

Typesetters working at the Publishers Printing Co. New York (silver gelatin print)
MNY381221 Typesetters working at the Publishers Printing Co. New York (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 19.2x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York

Leonardo da Vincis diagram of a typographical press with automatic page-feeder. Manuscript, c1480-1482
LEONARDO: PRINTING PRESS. Leonardo da Vincis diagram of a typographical press with automatic page-feeder. Manuscript, c1480-1482

DEATH AND THE PRINTERS. Woodcut from La Grande Danse Macabre, printed at Lyon in 1499-1500. This is the earliest extant depiction of the printing press

GUTENBERG BIBLE, 15th CENT. A page from one of the forty-six existing copies of the Gutenberg Bible printed at Mainz, Germany, between 1450 and 1456

PROGRESS OF THE CENTURY. The Lightning Steam Press, the Electric Telegraph, the Locomotive, the Steamboat. Lithograph, 1876, by Currier & Ives

GUTENBERG BIBLE. A page of Johann Gutenbergs 42-line Latin Bible printed at Mainz between 1453 and 1456. Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon

THE PRINTING OF BOOKS. Copper engraving by Theodor Galle (c1570-1633) after Jan van der Straet, from Nova Reperta, Antwerp, late 16th century

TYNDALEs BIBLE, 1525-26. William Tyndale (c1494-1536), English translator of the New Testament and Pentateuch, printing his New Testament at Cologne in 1525 (left)

BLOCK CUTTER, 1568. The Block Cutter engraves onto wood blocks the art that the draftsman has prepared; the printed image comes out as clear as the original drawing. Woodcut by Jost Amman, 1568

TYPE FOUNDER, 1568. The Typefounder casts type from bismuth, tin and lead. Roman, Gothic and Greek alphabets, capital letters and punctuation marks

TYNDALEs BIBLE, 1525-26. William Tyndale (c1494-1536), English translator of the New Testament and Pentateuch, printing his New Testament at Cologne in 1525 (left)

GUTENBERG BIBLE, 15th CENT. The first page of Genesis from one of the forty-six existing copies of the Gutenberg Bible printed at Mainz, Germany, between 1450 and 1456

TYPEFOUNDER, 1568. The Typefounder. Colored woodcut by Jost Amman

18th CENTURY PRINT SHOP. A reconstruction of a shop at Franklin Court, Philadelphia

JOHANN GUTENBERG (c1400-c1468). German printer. After a painting, 1894, by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris

CITY OF GOD, 1467. Page from the first printed edition of St. Augustines De Civitate Dei (City of God), Subiaco, 1467, the third book to be printed in Italy

PRINTING OFFICE. Interior of a printing office. Dutch woodcut by Abraham von Werdt, 17th century

ILLUMINATOR, 1568. The Illuminator colors or gilds pictures on paper or parchment; he does not hold with stencils, which produce poor work that is less highly remunerated

PRINTING OFFICE, 1568. The Book Printer applies the ink, his assistant pulls the lever, and a sheet is printed: woodcut by Jost Amman, 1568

BLOCK CUTTER, 1568. The Block Cutter engraves onto wood blocks the art that the draftsman has prepared. The printed image comes out as clear as the original drawing. Woodcut by Jost Amman, 1568

PRINTING: ENGLISH, 1590. Printers page, English, 1590

PRINTING OFFICE, 1530. Contemporary woodcut, 1530

PRINTING OFFICE, 1568. The book printer applies the ink, his assistant pulls the lever and a sheet is printed. Thus many arts become readily accessible; books used to be written by hand

HINE: PRINTER, c1905. American printer. Photograph by Lewis Hine, c1905

Excavated fragments of the Gutenberg Press and a reconstruction based upon contemporary descriptions
GUTENBERG PRINTING PRESS. Excavated fragments of the Gutenberg Press and a reconstruction based upon contemporary descriptions

JOHANN GUTENBERG (c1395-1468). German printer. Gutenberg taking the first proof printed from movable type. Engraving by F. Unzelmann after Adolf Menzel, 19th century

PRINT SHOP, 1752. Men at work in a printing house. Copper engraving, English, 1752

PRINTING INITIAL, c1584. Initial T. Wood engraving, French, c1584

TYPESETTER, 19th CENTURY. Line engraving, 19th century

PRINTERs INITIAL, c1500. Initial L. Wood engraving, French, c1500

PRINTING INITIAL, c1500. Initial Q. Wood engraving, French, c1500

PRINTING INITIAL, c1500. Initial C. Wood engraving, French, c1500

PRINTING AD, 1890. American magazine advertisement for a printing outfit and a magic hat rack, 1890

PRINT SHOP, 18th CENTURY. The composing room of a printshop. Line engraving, French, 18th century

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"Movable Type: Revolutionizing the World of Printing" In 1455, a groundbreaking invention known as movable type transformed the way information was disseminated. The Letter of Indulgence, printed using this innovative technique, marked a significant milestone in history. Fast forward to 1890, and we witness the advent of steam printing-presses at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D. C. , revolutionizing banknote production. The impact continued with advancements like numbering machines that streamlined processes further. In 1861, women were employed as compositors at a London printing office, challenging gender norms and contributing to the industry's growth. Meanwhile, colonial America welcomed its first printing press in 1639 when English printer Stephen Daye set it up in Cambridge. Printed materials expanded beyond text alone; maps became more accessible through woodcuts like Zaccaria Lilio's Orbis Breviarium from Florence in 1493 or Mappa Mundi - the first printed map of the world found within Etymologiae. Nicolaus Copernicus' De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium also utilized movable type to challenge traditional astronomical beliefs. Johannes Gutenberg stands out as an iconic figure behind this transformative technology. His invention forever changed communication by enabling mass production of books and spreading knowledge far and wide. A frontispiece dedicated to him captures his significance in A Concise History of Origin. Yet even amidst triumphs, challenges persisted for Gutenberg towards his final victory as depicted in "The Last Tribulation. " Nevertheless, movable type had already left an indelible mark on society – empowering individuals with access to information while propelling humanity into new realms of enlightenment.