United States 1014

     The stamp commemorates the 500th anniversary of first Bible printed from movable type by Johann Gutenberg. The picture on the left side of the stamp is based on a detail of a mural painted by Edward Lansing (1906-1981) in the New York Public Library. It shows Gutenberg presenting a proof of his Bible to the Archbishop, Duke Adolph Nassau, the Elector of Mainz.
     A cultural lapse is apparent in the picture; the Archbishop is not wearing his clerical robes as he should have been to receive the presentation. Other possible errors are the date for the printing of the book which is variously dated from 1952 to 1956; and whether Gutenberg was actually the first one to print a book with movable type.