The Gutenberg Digital: Preserving Our Past

|PIC1|Though the field of information technology has gone through major changes over the last few years, it is still the 'letterpress' revolution heralded by the Gutenberg press that stands out today.

As the first step towards mass media, the Gutenberg press earnt its inventor, Johann Gutenberg, the title 'Man of the Millenium' beating both Shakespere and Da Vinci (who placed 2nd and 4th respectively in the Times of London's survey) as having the most impact on our society over the last 1,000 years.


'Gutenberg Digital'

To mark the 600th 'anniversary' of the 'birth' of Johann Gutenberg, the Göttingen State and University Library of Lower Saxony, launched a digitalised version of the the Göttingen Gutenberg Bible (circa 1454) bringing a revolution of printing press into the digital era, and making them available both online and on CD-Rom.

Now 6 years old, 'Gutenberg Digital' with its vintage design and easy to use interface, allows visitors to view the 'original' pages of the Göttingen Bible in medieval German, along with it's companion book the Göttingen 'Model Book' (circa 1450) containing illustrations and tips that artists could use to paint their manuscript of the bible.

The 'Helmasperger Notarial Instrument', also available, records the monetary dispute that led to the printing press' seizure due to unpaid debts.


Can you read Medieval German?

|PIC2|All 1282 pages of the Göttingen Bible are available, with a pull down menu offering access to each chapter, and thumbnails of each page allowing selection of your favorite full-screen image, which are accurate enough to see even the printing of the back side of each sheet.

Unless you're skilled at reading medieval German however, you would probably prefer to see the illustrations.

Available under 'Illumination', illustrations from the 'Model Book', are shown in the Göttingen bible, and can be 'lifted off' and viewed in more detail.


And there's more...

Helping us to realise the impact of the Gutenberg printing press, 'Gutenberg and his Impact' explains 'pre-Gutenberg' copying techniques, letterpress printing, and then records the spread and cultural repercussions of printing after Gutenberg.

'Passages from the Bible', allowing you to view your favorite verses in medieval German alongside your native language, helps you realise how 'steeped in history' and ancient the Bible is...

...all in all, a very thorough and recommended website.

Click here to go there now.