The Lost Gutenberg - Obsession and Ruin in Pursuit of the World’s Rarest Books

An entertaining and insightful human story of obsession about books.' Daily Telegraph

'A lively tale of historical innovation, the thrill of the bibliophile's hunt, greed and betrayal.' New York Times

The never-before-told story of one extremely rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible, and its impact on the lives of the fanatical few who were lucky enough to own it.

For rare book collectors, an original copy of the Gutenberg Bible - there are only forty-six in existence - is the undisputed gem of any collection. The Lost Gutenberg recounts five centuries in the life of one particular copy of the Bible from its very creation by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany, to its ultimate resting place, in a steel vault under the protection of the Japanese government.

Margaret Leslie Davis draws readers into this incredible saga, inviting them into the colourful lives of each of its fanatic collectors along the way. Exploring books as objects of desire across centuries, Davis will leave readers not only with a broader understanding of the culture of rare book collectors, but with a deeper awareness of the importance of books in our world.

About the author

Margaret Leslie Davis is the award-winning author of several works of non-fiction, including The Dark Side of Fortune and Mona Lisa in Camelot. She lives in Los Angeles.

Summary

The never-before-told story of one extremely rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible, and its impact on the lives of the fanatical few who were lucky enough to own it.

Foreword

The never-before-told story of one extremely rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible, and its impact on the lives of the fanatical few who were lucky enough to own it.

Product details

• Authors: Margaret Leslie Davis, Davis Margaret Leslie
• Publisher: Atlantic Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 02.04.2020
• EAN: 9781786497659
• ISBN: 978-1-78649-765-9
• No. of pages: 304
• Dimensions: 129 mm x 198 mm x 21 mm
• Weight: 296 g
• Illustrations: integrated photos
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Non-fiction book > Art, literature > Literature: general, reference works; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; Europe, European History, HISTORY / Europe / General, BIBLES / Christian Standard Bible / New Testament & Portions, Printing, packaging & reprographic industry, New Testaments