German Museum of Books and Writing, Book and writing museum in Leipzig, Germany.
The German Museum of Books and Writing is a collection focused on the history of printing, written language, and publishing in Leipzig. The exhibition displays original works, printing techniques, and how books were created over centuries.
Founded on 29 October 1884 as the Deutsches Buchgewerbe-Museum, it is the world's oldest museum of its kind. In 1886 it acquired Heinrich Klemm's entire book collection, including a 42-line Gutenberg Bible printed on vellum. That Bible was taken as war booty at the end of World War II and is now in the Russian State Library in Moscow.
The museum displays historical printing presses and typefaces that visitors can see firsthand. It shows how the craft of bookmaking shaped German intellectual and creative life over centuries.
The museum is located in the German National Library building and is easily accessible by public transportation. The exhibitions are well labeled and newcomers can follow the content without needing prior knowledge.
The museum holds one of the world's largest collections of watermarks, which experts use to verify the authenticity of old paper. This collection allows specialists to determine the origin and age of documents more accurately.
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