The Gutenberg Bible ( also known as the 42-line Bible or the Mazarin Bible ) is a printed version of the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible that was printed by Johannes Gutenberg , in Mainz , Germany in the 15th century . Although it is not the first book to be printed by Gutenberg 's new movable type system , it is his major work , and of central importance for the start of the `` Gutenberg Revolution '' and the `` Age of the Printed Book '' . The Gutenberg Bible ( also known as the 42-line Bible , the Mazarin Bible or the B42 ) was the first major book printed with a movable type printing press , marking the start of the `` Gutenberg Revolution '' and the age of the printed book .