A rare and priceless artifact, the Gutenberg Bible, is now on display at the Medieval Art Gallery in Warsaw. Printed over 570 years ago by Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, this Bible is one of the few preserved copies in the world and the only one in Poland.
The particular copy on display comes from the Diocesan Museum in Pelpin. It has a fascinating history, dating back to 1502 when it was donated by Nicolaus Crapitz, the Bishop of Warmia, to the Franciscan Reformed Convent in Lubawa. The Bible remained in the convent until its dissolution in the 19th century, after which it was placed in the Library of the Seminary in Pelplin.
Now, the book is being showcased in Warsaw, offering visitors the rare opportunity to view one of the earliest works printed by Gutenberg. This particular copy is notable for being complete, with both volumes intact, and it still retains its original 15th-century binding. Nearly all of its pages are preserved, making it a remarkable piece of history.
Despite its age, the Gutenberg Bible has played a significant role in modern historical research. A minor technical defect in one of the pages of the first volume helped researchers uncover more details about Gutenberg’s printing process. This discovery revealed that the defect was due to a shape in the font falling out of the mounting, providing valuable insight into the invention of movable type.
Marcin Bogusz, the curator of the exhibition, explained the revolutionary nature of Gutenberg’s invention: “The idea itself of movable type was extremely innovative, because it allowed printing many identical copies of a book in a very short time. This breakthrough allowed the printing technique to spread across Europe, making Gutenberg’s innovation a game-changer.”
The Gutenberg Bible’s journey through history has not been without its challenges. In 1939, with the threat of war looming, the Bible was sent to Canada for safekeeping, along with other key Polish cultural artifacts. It remained there until the late 1950s when it was returned to Poland. Before being sent back to its home in Pelplin, the Bible was displayed for several days at the National Museum in Warsaw in 1959.
To preserve the delicate nature of the Gutenberg Bible, the display in Warsaw has been meticulously prepared. It is housed in a bulletproof, air-conditioned display case that ensures optimal conditions, with a temperature of 20-23°C and relative humidity kept between 45-55%. The exhibition is also carefully monitored to limit exposure to artificial light and to prevent damage from UV radiation. The Bible can only be exhibited for 60 days a year to protect its fragile pages.
Accompanying the display is a thematic walking tour that explores the late medieval culture of writing and printed books. This exhibit allows visitors to understand the significance of books during that era, illustrating the profound impact of the Gutenberg Bible on the way we consume books and media today. The influence of Gutenberg’s printing press can also be seen in the visual arts, where artists of the time began using prints to create their works, with engravings by Martin Schongauer and Albrecht Dürer being particularly influential.
The Medieval Art Gallery also features monuments influenced by Gutenberg’s work, marked with a special symbol to highlight their connection to the groundbreaking invention.
This rare exhibition offers a glimpse into the origins of mass-produced books and the revolution that changed the course of history. The Gutenberg Bible is not just a religious text but a monument to innovation and cultural transformation.
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