The Morgan Library & Museum is the only institution in the world to possess three copies of the Gutenberg Bible, the first substantial book printed from movable type in the West. One of the volumes of the Gutenberg Bible is always on display in the museum’s historic East Room in New York City so the public has visual access to it. In this video, John McQuillen, Associate Curator, Printed Books and Bindings, explains how Gutenberg's work revolutionized European literacy and learning.

The Gutenberg Bible marked a revolutionary shift from the laborious, handwritten manuscripts of the past to a more efficient and accessible method of book production. This innovation paved the way for the widespread availability of printed materials, enabling the rapid spread of knowledge and ideas, and playing a crucial role in the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation. The Gutenberg Bible's technical and cultural impact was profound, ushering in a new era of mass communication and literacy that would shape the course of Western civilization.

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