In 1978, a museum in West Germany spent $1.8 million to buy a single book. What was it?

The book in question, purchased by a West German museum in 1978 for a staggering $1.8 million, represents a pivotal moment in human history. It was the brainchild of Johannes Gutenberg, who perfected the revolutionary movable type printing press in Mainz around 1455. This monumental achievement allowed for the mass production of texts, fundamentally transforming the way knowledge and ideas were disseminated across Europe and beyond. Before its creation, books were painstakingly copied by hand, making them incredibly rare and expensive.

This particular volume was the very first major work printed using Gutenberg's innovative technology, making it a foundational artifact of the information age. Its acquisition by the Württemberg State Museum in Stuttgart highlights its unparalleled historical and cultural value. Only about 49 copies, complete or substantially complete, are known to exist worldwide today, with many held by libraries and institutions. The price paid in 1978, equivalent to many millions in today's money, underscored the book's immense rarity and its enduring legacy as a symbol of human ingenuity.