From Gutenberg to Mexico

History of printing

The history of printing in the West begins around 1450 in Mainz, Germany, when Johannes Gutenberg combined three inventions: mass-cast metal movable type, an oil-based ink and a screw press adapted from those used for wine.

Within a few decades printing had spread across Europe. Books printed before 1501 are known as incunabula. In 1539 the press crossed the Atlantic: Juan Pablos set up the first print shop in the Americas in Mexico City.

For three centuries the principle stayed the same: set letter by letter, ink, and press sheet by sheet. The 19th century brought iron presses, lithography and mechanization, and printing became an industry.

The MUNAG lets you follow this history through real objects: presses, type, plates and prints from every period.