SCHÖFFER Peter

(Gernsheim 1425 c. – Mainz 1503 c.)

Peter Schöffer is remembered as one of the first and most important German printers. After studying in Paris, where he worked from 1451 in ancient manuscripts as an amanuensis, he first became an apprentice and later a close collaborator of Gutenberg.
In 1457/58, together with Johann Fust, he set up the company and printing house Fust & Schöffer causing the closure of Gutenberg’s workshop, from which they took over part of the printing equipment and the typographical characters for the Bible. Schöffer is considered the author of numerous innovations in typographic work, such as the introduction of Greek characters and the use of colored inks.
He married Christina, the only daughter of Fust, and they had two children who continued the paternal activity as printers.