The medal's obverse bears bust of Johann Gutenberg facing right. Around, IOHANN GAENSEFLEISCH / VULGO GUTENBERG; on right, BORN / IN MAINZ / GERMANY / BETW. / 1393 - 1400; signed to left of shoulder, Scharff
The reverse shows Gutenberg statue by Robert Hoe. To left, THE FIRST / AMERICAN STATUE / OF GUTENBERG; to right, ERECTED / IN NEW YORK / BY ROBERT HOE 1899.
Robert Hoe III was a printing press magnate and first President of the Grolier Club. He took over the R. Hoe & Co. from his father and built it into one of the pre-eminent printing press manufacturers of the country, becoming very wealthy in the process of doing so.
His love was not just for the business side though. He truly appreciated books and was a life-long collector of rare books and manuscripts. His interest in Gutenberg, the father of his chosen art, was obvious and he owned one of the few known Gutenberg bibles. In 1899 he commissioned Ralph Goddard to design a statue to celebrate Gutenberg and Scharff to commemorate the event with a medal.
This medal is a part of most famous American Museum collections. It measures 70mm in diameter and was struck in both bronze and silver in unknown quantities by the private Christelbauer mint of Austria.
References: Baxter 272
