Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1917 — First of Printed Books. [ARTICLE]

First of Printed Books.

Although neither Caxton nor other of early printers Included any part of th© holy scriptures among their productions, it is a noteworthy fact that the Bible was the first printed book in the world, being, moreover, the masterpiece of the illustrious inventor of the art of printing, Johann Gensfleisch von Sulzebach, surnamed Zum Gutenberg, having associated himself with Johann Faust of Mentz, produced with his assistance, in 1450-55 (the book is undated) the famous folio Latin Bible commonly known asrihe Mazarin Bible, the first copy having been discovered in the library of Cardinal Mazarin. The expense of this production was so great that Gutenberg was unable to repay his partner the money that he had advanced, and was' obliged to resign to him the whole of his printing establishment and plant, with which Faust, in partnership with Peter Schoeffer, printed the equally famous Mentz Psalter in 1457. By the testimony of auction prices these are the two most valuable books in the world.