36-line Bible
Encyclopedia
The 36-line Bible, also known as the "Bamberg Bible" and sometimes called a "Gutenberg Bible", is the second printed edition of the Bible, after the Gutenberg Bible
. It is believed to have been printed in Bamberg
, Germany, about 1458-60. No printer's name appears in the book, but it is possible that Johannes Gutenberg was responsible.
The name refers to the 36 lines of text printed on each page, and distinguishes it from the Gutenberg Bible, or 42-line Bible.
The date 1461 was marked by a rubricator
in one copy of the Bible, showing that it could not have been printed any later than this. Most scholars now agree that the 36-line Bible can be dated to 1458-60, making it the second printed edition of the Bible.
A fragment exists of a 40-line Bible, probably printed around 1458 or earlier, and printed with the same type. However it is believed that the fragment is only a trial piece and that this Bible was never printed. It has been suggested that the first few pages of the 36-line Bible were set from the same manuscript used for the 40-line Bible fragment.
and other equipment from him. Several pieces of evidence show that Gutenberg was linked in some way with the 36-line Bible. In the 1980s cyclotron
analysis performed by Richard Schwab and Thomas Cahill established that the ink used was similar to that used for the 42-line Bible.
The type is a version of the so-called D-K type, also known as the 36-line Bible type. This type is crude and older than that used for the 42-line Bible. It had been used for some very early works, probably predating the 42-line Bible and almost certainly printed by Gutenberg, such as an Ars minor by Donatus
(various printings c. 1452-53) and several leaves of a pamphlet called the Turkish Calendar for 1455 (likely printed in late 1454), hence the name D-K for "Donatus-Kalendar". Gutenberg lost much of his original equipment to his banker Johann Fust
in a lawsuit in 1455, and it is possible this type was the only one left available to him. A number of works seem to have been printed with the D-K type in Mainz between 1455 and 1459, perhaps by Gutenberg.
Albrecht Pfister
, who is known to have used the D-K type in Bamberg from at least 1461, has also been suggested as the printer. Many authorities believe that Pfister is unlikely because later works known to be by him have poorer-quality printing.
Eight of these copies are in Germany. This Bible has been much less sought after than the 42-line Bible, with a higher proportion remaining in Germany and only one having been acquired by an American library, an incomplete copy at Princeton University Library
. A copy is on permanent display in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery in the British Library
.
Gutenberg Bible
The Gutenberg Bible was the first major book printed with a movable type printing press, and marked the start of the "Gutenberg Revolution" and the age of the printed book. Widely praised for its high aesthetic and artistic qualities, the book has an iconic status...
. It is believed to have been printed in Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
, Germany, about 1458-60. No printer's name appears in the book, but it is possible that Johannes Gutenberg was responsible.
The name refers to the 36 lines of text printed on each page, and distinguishes it from the Gutenberg Bible, or 42-line Bible.
Date
In the past, some scholars argued that the 36-line Bible was an early and primitive version of Gutenberg's 42-line Bible, which would have meant it was printed prior to 1455. Careful comparison of the texts, however, has since shown that, with the exception of the first few pages, the 36-line Bible was set from the Gutenberg Bible. This proves that the 42-line Bible came first.The date 1461 was marked by a rubricator
Rubrication
Rubrication was one of several steps in the medieval process of manuscript making. Practitioners of rubrication, so-called rubricators, were specialized scribes who received text from the manuscript's original scribe and supplemented it with additional text in red ink for emphasis...
in one copy of the Bible, showing that it could not have been printed any later than this. Most scholars now agree that the 36-line Bible can be dated to 1458-60, making it the second printed edition of the Bible.
A fragment exists of a 40-line Bible, probably printed around 1458 or earlier, and printed with the same type. However it is believed that the fragment is only a trial piece and that this Bible was never printed. It has been suggested that the first few pages of the 36-line Bible were set from the same manuscript used for the 40-line Bible fragment.
Place of printing
Several pieces of evidence suggest that the 36-line Bible was printed in Bamberg, Germany. The paper used is known from Bamberg (and not from Mainz, the location of Gutenberg's press); copies exist in typical Bamberg style bindings; fragments were used to add padding to the bindings of other books printed in Bamberg; and almost all known copies have ownership records that can be traced back to Bamberg or its vicinity.Identity of printer
The printer's identity is unknown. It may have been Gutenberg, someone who had worked for him, or someone who had bought typeTypeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
and other equipment from him. Several pieces of evidence show that Gutenberg was linked in some way with the 36-line Bible. In the 1980s cyclotron
Cyclotron
In technology, a cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator. In physics, the cyclotron frequency or gyrofrequency is the frequency of a charged particle moving perpendicularly to the direction of a uniform magnetic field, i.e. a magnetic field of constant magnitude and direction...
analysis performed by Richard Schwab and Thomas Cahill established that the ink used was similar to that used for the 42-line Bible.
The type is a version of the so-called D-K type, also known as the 36-line Bible type. This type is crude and older than that used for the 42-line Bible. It had been used for some very early works, probably predating the 42-line Bible and almost certainly printed by Gutenberg, such as an Ars minor by Donatus
Donatus
-People:* Aelius Donatus, a Roman grammarian and teacher of rhetoric* Donatus , a Khan of the Eastern Black Sea Huns & beyond c. 412 AD; preceded by Uldin and succeeded by Charaton-Churchmen:...
(various printings c. 1452-53) and several leaves of a pamphlet called the Turkish Calendar for 1455 (likely printed in late 1454), hence the name D-K for "Donatus-Kalendar". Gutenberg lost much of his original equipment to his banker Johann Fust
Johann Fust
Johann Fust was an early German printer.- Family background :Fust belonged to a rich and respectable burgher family of Mainz, traceable back to the early thirteenth-century; members of the family held many civil and religious offices.The name was always written Fust, but in 1506 Peter Schöffer, in...
in a lawsuit in 1455, and it is possible this type was the only one left available to him. A number of works seem to have been printed with the D-K type in Mainz between 1455 and 1459, perhaps by Gutenberg.
Albrecht Pfister
Albrecht Pfister
Albrecht Pfister was one of the very first European printers to use movable type, following its invention by Johannes Gutenberg. Working in Bamberg, Germany, he is believed to have been responsible for two innovations in the use of the new technology: printing books in the German language, and...
, who is known to have used the D-K type in Bamberg from at least 1461, has also been suggested as the printer. Many authorities believe that Pfister is unlikely because later works known to be by him have poorer-quality printing.
Surviving copies
Fourteen complete or nearly complete copies are known, on paper or vellum, plus many fragments and single leaves. The small number of surviving copies suggests that far fewer were printed than of the 42-line Bible. A higher proportion may have been printed on vellum.Eight of these copies are in Germany. This Bible has been much less sought after than the 42-line Bible, with a higher proportion remaining in Germany and only one having been acquired by an American library, an incomplete copy at Princeton University Library
Princeton University Library
Princeton University Library is the main library system of Princeton University. With holdings of more than 7 million books, 6 million microforms, and 37,000 linear feet of manuscripts, it is headquartered in the Harvey S...
. A copy is on permanent display in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery in the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
.
Sources
- G.D. Painter, Gutenberg and the B36 group. A re-consideration, in Essays in honour of Victor Scholderer (1970)
- Margaret Bingham Stillwell, The Beginning of the World of Books, 1450 to 1470, Bibliographical Society of America, New York, 1972.
External links
- Digitised copy from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
- Gutenberg's earliest type Includes photographs of one leaf
- Incunablula Short Title Catalogue entry Details of surviving copies