Johannes Gutenberg (1398-1468) is credited not only with inventing a printing press with movable type but also with ushering in the Renaissance period in Europe. In 1447, Gutenberg borrowed 800 guilders from his partner, Johann Fust, and along with Fust's son-in-law, Peter Shöffer, established his printing business with the intention of printing the Bible and quickly paying back the debt. But things didn't work out for Gutenberg, and his first Bible didn't come out until 1455 - and by then, he was 20,000 guilders in debt.

Fust took 0 to court, where the judge declared him bankrupt and threw the book at him by awarding control of the types and plates used in his Bible, plus the printing equipment, to Fust.

Fust-Schöffer printed the first book that included the printer's name (their names) and the date and explained the mechanical process by which it was produced, but made no mention of Gutenberg.

Although Gutenberg never made a penny from his invention or received any fame during his lifetime, he is bound forever in the pages of history as one of the most influential inventors of all time.

Gutenberg's early printing process, and what tests he may have made with movable type, are not known in great detail. His later Bibles were printed in such a way as to have required large quantities of type, some estimates suggesting as many as 100,000 individual sorts. Setting each page would take, perhaps, half a day, and considering all the work in loading the press, inking the type, pulling the impressions, hanging up the sheets, distributing the type, etc., it is thought that the Gutenberg-Fust shop might have employed as many as 25 craftsmen.