Facts about Invention of the Printing Press
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Within decades of its invention, the printing press spread rapidly across Europe, with hundreds of printing shops established in cities from Mainz to Venice by 1500.
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Gutenberg's press used an oil-based ink that adhered better to metal type than the water-based inks previously used for woodblock printing.
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Movable type was invented in China by Bi Sheng centuries before Gutenberg developed his press in Europe.
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The Gutenberg Bible, printed around 1455, is considered the first major book produced using movable type in Europe and remains one of the most valuable printed books in the world.
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Johannes Gutenberg's invention of movable-type printing in Europe around 1440 revolutionized the spread of knowledge by making books far cheaper and faster to produce.