Humbrechthof (Humbrecht Court), Mainz

Humbrecht Court is the building where Gutenberg expanded his printing press and printed the first Gutenberg Bibles. With financial backing from Johann Fust, Gutenberg set up an expanded print shop in Humbrecht Court and printed the famous 42-line Gutenberg Bible in 1450.

The relationship between Fust and Gutenberg turned sour, and Fust sued Gutenberg over a loan. Fust had made a generous loan to fund Gutenberg's print works. The courts ruled that Gutenberg had to turn over half of the printed Bibles to Fust. Gutenberg was financially ruined and moved back to his father's house in 1455, where he set up another printing press.

Fust kept the Humbrecht Court property, renamed it the "Druckhaus" (printing house), and set up a printing press with Gutenberg's former assistant, Peter Schoeffer. Schoeffer married Fust's daughter, and the family kept the printing press going.

Visitors can see Humbrecht Court's 1584 stair tower along with an inscription. Two modern houses have replaced the original building.