Printing of the Mainz Psalter

Formation of the Fust-Schöffer Partnership. Johann Fust, a Mainz citizen and moneylender, had previously financed Johannes Gutenberg’s printing operations. After a 1455 lawsuit where Fust recovered his loans, he formed a partnership with Peter Schöffer, a former Gutenberg workman and Fust’s son-in-law. This new firm, Fust and Schöffer, began independent production in Mainz, distinct from Gutenberg’s earlier workshop.

Printing Innovations and Completion. The Mainz Psalter was completed on August 14, 1457. It was the first European book to include a printed date of publication and a printed colophon. The volume featured large decorative initials printed mechanically in two colors, red and blue, using types made in two pieces. This technical achievement distinguished it from earlier single-color movable-type productions.

Historical Significance. As the second major book printed with movable type in the West, the Psalter was commissioned by the Mainz archbishop. It represented the first important publication issued by the Fust-Schöffer partnership. The book’s mechanical production process, including color printing, was explicitly noted in its colophon as a distinct technical achievement.