| Date: 1452 Designer:
Johannes (Gensfleisch zur Laden zum) Gutenberg Foundry:
Gutenberg founder and printer Location:
Mainz, Germany Current equivalent:
FF JohannesG
(digitised by Manfred Klein) See also:
Goudy Text, Wilhelm Klingsporschrift, Cloister Black
Technologies:
Metal (foundry)
Postscript | | Famous for:
The first moveable type used in Europe to print a book. Applications: Religious and Devotional Ubiquity:
Very rarely used Category:
Blackletter Textura Stress: Vertical
Serifs: Calligraphic | | Design history:
This type is based on Textura, one of four categories of blackletter type. Prior to this point, all European books had been hand lettered, with woodblock prints to reproduce drawings. Gutenberg's invention used his skills as a goldsmith, in conjunction with a new, non-traditional use for a wine press. He also had a specific recipe for making metal type; 67% lead, 28% antimony, 5% tin. The B-42 Textura is a dark, even letter said to have been cast using sand or clay moulds, and used nearly 300 characters to mimic the look of handwriting and create the ligatures (joined characters) then in common use. The original type had no numerals as these were added after printing by a rubricator. | |  |
