A true story of literary obsession, rare-book intrigue, and a family’s unexpected link to the world’s most famous book.

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In his new book, Noble Fragments, journalist Michael Visontay unravels the century-old mystery of Gabriel Wells, the New York bookseller who shocked the literary world in 1921 by dismantling a priceless Gutenberg Bible and selling it page by page. The Gutenberg Bible, regarded as the first substantial book printed in Europe on a printing press, symbolized the democratization of knowledge and became the Holy Grail of rare books. Wells' audacity scandalized the rare-book world and divided New Yorkers: was the dismemberment an unforgivable sacrilege or a shrewd deal? Decades later, Visontay uncovers a hidden connection between his own family and Wells, setting off a globe-spanning quest to track down the scattered pages.

The New York Public Library holds the first Gutenberg Bible to arrive in the U.S. in 1847, now on display in the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

To join | Please register for an In-Person Ticket. Doors will open around 1:30 PM. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Michael Visontay has worked for 40 years as a journalist, editor, author and lecturer across a broad range of Australian media. Michael has a Bachelor of Economics from Sydney University, was a writer on books and culture for the Sydney Morning Herald, and is a former Assistant Editor of that paper. He is currently Commissioning Editor of The Jewish Independent. Michael's books including Welcome To Wanderland, about the rise of the Western Sydney Wanderers football club, and Who Gave You Permission?, the story of child sex abuse survivor, Manny Waks. Noble Fragments: The Gripping Story of the Antiquarian Bookseller who Broke Up a Gutenberg Bible (Scribe), is his sixth book.

READ THE BOOK:

• Borrow: NYPL Catalog


• E-Book app: SimplyE, available on iOS and Android
  

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ACCESSIBILITY

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Courtesy Michael Visontay