The Society
The International Gutenberg Society is an international association for the study of the history and development of printing technology and written media.
The Society was founded on June 23, 1901 in Mainz and is one of the most traditional scientific societies in Mainz. The Gutenberg Society, together with the city of Mainz and, in turn, with the city of Leipzig, awards the € 10,000 Gutenberg Prize for outstanding artistic, technical or scientific achievements in the field of printing.
In addition to promoting research in the printing and book industry, it provides conceptual and material support for the Gutenberg Museum Mainz. Its membership consists of around 800 members in 31 countries of the world (as of 2018). Its president is the Lord Mayor of Mainz.
Expand knowledge
The Gutenberg Society financially and ideally promotes the exploration of the history and present of printing and written media. As an important result of this effort, the society publishes once a year the "Gutenberg Yearbook", published since 1926, one of the most important publications on the subject of book, print and written history. The members of the Gutenberg Society receive it free of charge as an annual gift. Older vintages can be viewed and searched exclusively by members over the Internet. The access data for this access is given to each new member upon entry from the office. The "Small Prints" of the Society are published in loose sequence as well. They access current research results in a larger context.
Become a member
We look forward to you! Support the goals of the Gutenberg Society, participate in numerous events, meet like-minded people and expand your knowledge of the history of books, printing, writing and media.
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125 Years International Gutenberg Society
In 2026 the International Gutenberg Society in Mainz will celebrate its 125th anniversary. It was founded on 23 June 1901. Since then, the Society has steadfastly pursued two major goals: researching the history and development of printing technology and text-based media, and providing conceptual and financial support to the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz.
The history of the Gutenberg Society is closely linked to that of the Gutenberg Museum, where it held its first meeting at the opening. The Society grew rapidly, reaching over 600 members by the end of 1901.
In 1926, the Society celebrated its 25th anniversary with the publication of a commemorative volume, which also marked the first issue of the Gutenberg Yearbook. This has since appeared annually in an almost uninterrupted series. The Gutenberg Yearbook is the most significant result of the Society's endeavours and the leading publication in the field of international Gutenberg research. Additionally, the Gutenberg Society has published around two hundred other works, including the 'Kleine Drucke' (Small Prints) series, with the latest issue, No. 117, published in 2025.
Since 1968, the Gutenberg Society, in collaboration with the city of Mainz, has awarded the Gutenberg Prize, worth 10,000 euros, for exceptional artistic, technical and scientific contributions to printmaking and book history. Initially presented every three years, since 1994 the award has been given out annually, alternating with the Gutenberg Prize of the City of Leipzig, which also honours outstanding achievements in book art.
The Gutenberg Society can thus look back with pride on a long tradition of successful work, supported by the dedication of its members and promoted by the City of Mainz's strong commitment to its most famous son.
Even today, with around 600 members in over 30 countries worldwide, the International Gutenberg Society remains an important institution, supporting both Gutenberg research and the Gutenberg Museum. The Society's office is located at Liebfrauenplatz 10 in Mainz, alongside the Gutenberg Foundation. 2024 also marked the start of an exciting and eventful period for the Gutenberg Society, coinciding with the Gutenberg Museum's architectural and conceptual reorientation. As it has done for the past 125 years, the Gutenberg Society will support the Gutenberg Museum on its path towards a new future.