Gutenberg's Partnership with Fust

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| Gutenberg Notes | Early Years | The Strasbourg Years | Partnership with Fust |

| Jobbing | Guttenberg Bible | Break Up With Fust | The Later Years | Print Shop |

 

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Johann Fust (JPEG 44K)

Gutenberg returned to Mainz, Germany around 1448 and immediately set about finding a backer for his printing endeavors. He found one in the form of a local businessman named Johann Fust. In 1450, Fust gave a large loan of four hundred guilders to Gutenberg under the agreement that if Gutenberg failed to repay the money plus interest, Fust would take over Gutenberg's equipment. Even though Gutenberg never repaid this first loan, Fust extended another four hundred guilders to the printer in 1452. However this time, Fust insisted on entering into a partnership with Gutenberg as a way of protecting his money. Again, the agreement stated that if the money was not repaid, Fust would take over the business along with any products made by the business and any equipment of the business. It was during the next couple of years that Gutenberg perfected his printing process and began printing his famous Gutenberg Bible.

Credits:

Picture of Fust shown with permission from David Pankow, Curatorat the Cary Graphic Arts Collection website address: http://wally2.rit.edu/cary/15th_century/4.html

 

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References:

Bunson, Matthew (1995). Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages. Facts On File, Inc. New York, New York.

 

Pollard, Michael (1992). Johann Gutenberg. Exley Publications Ltd. Watford, Herts WDI 4BN, United Kingdom.

 

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