What is movable type? How does it work?

Movable type is a printing method using individual pieces (blocks) that carry a single letter or character; these pieces can be assembled for printing in any desired combination. Movable type was first created by Bi Sheng in the 11th century. He used baked clay to create a block for each Chinese character. Then each clay character was arranged on an iron sheet, this process is called typesetting. After typesetting was complete an iron frame was placed around the type and was ready for printing. Wang Zhen of the Yuan dynasty is credited for creating the first wooden movable type, which was more durable than clay. The first metal moveable type was created in Korea in the 13th century.

“The invention of the movable metal type printer in Europe is usually credited to the German printer Johannes Gutenberg. However, there are other claims, notably the Dutch printer Laurens Janszoon Coster (c. 1370-1440 CE) and two other early German printers, Johann Fust (c. 1400-1465 CE) and his son-in-law Peter Schöffer (c. 1425-1502 CE). There is, too, evidence that movable metal type printers had already been invented in Korea in 1234 CE in the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392 CE). Chinese Buddhist scholars also printed religious works using moveable type presses; the earliest ones used woodblocks during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE). Whether the idea of moveable type presses spread via merchants and travellers from Asia to Europe or if the invention by Gutenberg was spontaneous is still a point of debate amongst scholars.”

– Cartwright, M. (2020, November 02). The Printing Revolution in Renaissance Europe. World History Encyclopedia.

What is the printing press?

Johannes Gutenberg is credited with inviting the first printing press. His invention used movable pieces of metal type that could be reused and a press that created clear impressions on paper. In this process movable type was arranged on a wooden plate, ink was applied to the type, and a sheet of paper was put on top. Then another plate was brought down on top of the wooden plate pressing the paper and the type together. This allowed for about 250 sheets per hour.

The invention of Gutenberg’s printing press resulted in a greater volume of books produced and easier access to these books (in terms of pricing). It allowed for more exposure, making writing a profession one could live off of. It also resulted in an increase in literacy and the spread of ideas and knowledge concerning religion, art, science, history, poetry, etc. Gutenberg printed an estimated 180 Bibles with his printing press. Of these 180 copies only 49 exist today. You can see one of these copies in person at the Morgan Library.

How did the printing press impact publishing?

Before the printing press, all books were produced by hand, engraving wood blocks and plates; therefore, making a book was more strenuous and time-consuming. After the invention of the printing press, books were produced much cheaper, quicker, and in larger quantities, resulting in mass production of books. The press allowed for more pages to be printed per day, creating a more efficient process; although, the technology was still new and many errors were made in many texts. The printing press aided the gradual distribution of different types of texts throughout society, resulting in the gradual distribution of knowledge worldwide.