Johann Fust

Johann Fust was a German merchant, moneylender and printer from Mainz known as a business partner of Johann Gutenberg.

Johann became a partner of Gutenberg in 1449. He lent him money so he could buy necessary equipment for the printing press, and to furnish a large workshop located in the Humbrechthof. He continued to finance his efforts until the Forty-two-Line or “Gutenberg Bible” was finally completed in 1454. The book achieved a great success and all the copies were quickly sold. But, when Fust asked for repayment of the loans, a great disagreement arose between partners.

The case even ended in the court, and Fust, who won, seized both the workshop and the printing equipment (1455). In partnership with his son-in-law, Peter Schöffer he started a new printing enterprise, and printed a number of fine editions as Mainz Psalter, Canon missae, and Forty-eight–Line Bible.

Although Gutenberg designed and manufactured the first printing press, it was Johann Fust who enabled the printing of Gutenberg Bible and has contributed to the printing technology as a mode of creating high-quality and esthetically designed texts.