2017-02-03 Fri

The first writing ink was invented in 2500 B. C. by the Egyptians and the Chinese. It is believed that this ink was made by mixing carbon with gum. So the ink was already invented and there was a need for inventing a machine which could make the human writing work very easy.

Johannes Gutenberg introduced the very first printing press to Europe in 1439. This movable printing press soon started a printing revolution all over Europe. It also played a key role in the development of Renaissance.

Gutenberg’s talents were manifold, including the capabilities of a mechanical inventor, a craftsman and a salesman. He also had a fine eye for the design to be printed on pages.

Gutenberg’s press is believed to have produced about 180 copies of the 42-line Bible. More impressive, is the meticulous design of the pages which includes decorative initials, the graceful proportions of the twin columns one each page, handsome texture typeface emphasizing vertical and horizontal elements of the letters. This person passed away on 3rd February 1468.

To honor this invention, Albania Post issued two stamps of 20 Lek and 60 Lek on 20th March 1997 to mark the 600th birth anniversary of Gutenberg. One stamp depicts the portrait of the Sir Gutenberg’s and the other one depicts a printing press machine. ‘Shqiperia’(Albania) is read on the top of the stamp.