A page from the Book of Amos from a Gutenberg Bible, also known as the "42-line Biblia Latina". Printed by Johann Gutenberg, (1397?-1468) between 1454 and 1456 and published by Johannes Fust, (1400-1466).
The Gutenberg Bible is the most famous incunabulum, as its production began the mass printing production in the Western Hemisphere. It is considered the first book printed on a large scale using the movable types system in Europe, symbolizing the beginning of the "Age of Printing".
It is believed the bible format was designed after the Bible of Mainz manuscript (1,300 pages handwritten.)
The name "42-line Bible" refers to the number of lines printed on each page, and is used to differentiate it from the later 36-line edition. It is thought up to 180 copies were produced: 45 on parchment and 135 on paper. Each copy is unique as after pages were printed, they were drawn and illuminated by hand by specialists.