German Museum of Books and Writing "Signs - Books - Networks"

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  Picture postcard with what is said to be the oldest picture of Johannes Gutenberg, Mainz 1900

  Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Leipzig

  1450

  Johannes Gutenberg begins printing his 42-line Bible.
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  Letter of indulgence from 1455, printed on parchment in Johannes Gutenberg’s workshop in Mainz, issued by Johannes de Ytestein in Nuremberg

  Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig

  1454

  The first ever printed letter of indulgence is issued in Mainz.
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  Nicolaus Cusanus in der Kirche San Pietro in Vincoli, Rom, Grabmal von Andrea Bregno, 1465, Fotografie von Werner B. Sendker

  Werner B. Sendker / Wikimedia Commons

  1464

  Nicolaus Cusanus bequeaths his scholar’s library to the hospital of Kues.
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  Anton Koberger, portrait as a copperplate engraving, 1745

  Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Leipzig

  1472

  Anton Koberger opens a printworks in Nuremberg.
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  Late Gothic leather book cover from the Carthusian monastery in Cologne, circa 1508; photo: Klaus D. Sonntag

  Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Leipzig

  1480

  Book binders in Basel form the first book-binding guild.
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  Double-page spread from the simpler German reprint of the Peregrinatio in terram sanctam by Bernhard Breidenbach from 1488

  Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Leipzig

  1486

  Bernhard von Breidenbach’s Peregrinatio in terram sanctam, the first Christian pilgrims’ guide, is published in Mainz.
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  Double-page extract from the German edition of the Schedelsche Weltchronik (Nuremberg Chronicle) with a brief outline of the story of Genesis

  Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Leipzig

  1493

  The Nuremberg Chronicle is released in Latin and German-language editions.
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  Early printing sites and channels of trade entered in the map of Europe taken from Hartman Schedel’s Weltchronik

  Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Leipzig

  1500

  Printing establishes itself at around 250 locations in Central Europe.
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  Martin Luther, copper engraving by Lucas Cranach, 1521

  Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Leipzig

  1517

  Martin Luther publishes his 95 theses against the sale of indulgences.
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  Philipp Melanchthon, copper engraving by Albrecht Dürer, 1526

  Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum Hannover / Wikimedia Commons

  1521

  Philipp Melanchthon publishes a book of religious instruction entitled Loci communes rerum theologicarum.