Gutenberg Bible leaf could sell for thousands

A highly sought-after leaf from the Gutenberg Bible (regarded as the first substantial book printed with movable type in the Western world) has been found in an attic in Bromsgrove in Worcestershire and is expected to sell for £20-30,000 this month.

The 570-year-old manuscript, dating back to circa 1455, will be sold at Chorley’s Auctioneers in the Cotswolds on March 25. It was found by a Bromsgrove resident among his late grandfather’s possessions stored in his attic last year, in a box which hadn’t been opened for over 50 years.

Each leaf from a Gutenberg Bible is a very rare and significant piece of printing history, prized for its aesthetic and historical importance, and more usually found in a museum.

This particular page from the Gutenberg Bible known as the 42-line Bible, features part of the Book of Numbers, specifically from verses 8:13 to 10:23. It highlights key biblical events such as the setting apart of the Levites, the Passover, and the Cloud above the Tabernacle. The text is presented in Gothic type, with intricate Lombard initials in red and blue, showcasing the masterful craftsmanship and design of early European printing.

The Gutenberg Bible – produced by Johannes Gutenberg and his partner Johann Fust in Mainz, Germany in the mid 1400’s – marks the dawn of the ‘Gutenberg Revolution’, the catalyst for the spread of printed books throughout the Western world. Only 49 copies or substantial portions of this monumental work survive today, making it one of the most valuable and revered books in existence.

Chorley’s director Werner Freundel said: “The Gutenberg Bible’s immense historical value stems from its pioneering role in the development of European typography and the spread of knowledge. With only a handful of Gutenberg Bibles surviving in the world, we were amazed to discover a leaf from an original Bible in a Bromsgrove attic. This beautiful leaf represents an increasingly rare opportunity for collectors, historians and enthusiasts to own a tangible piece of history.”