Portrait of the fair

Every two years, the Gutenberg City of Mainz becomes the meeting-place for private presses, small publishers, hand presses, book artists and authors. Nearly 260 exhibitors from more than 10 countries and 5.000 visitors meet at the Mainzer Minipressen-Messe and form the greatest marketplace for books by small publishers and artistic prints.

This book fair has developed from modest beginnings to become an international book fair for small publishers and artistic private presses. It is also a sales show with an extensive supporting program comprising more than 30 cultural and specialist events. Thus, it has become the forum where the latest ideas and trends for the printing and the publishing of literature and art are traded.

The Mainzer Minipressen-Messe is organized every two years – always in uneven years – and with 53 years of experience, it is the most constant and oldest event of its kind in Europe. The City of Mainz is a funding body, the preparations and implementation lie in the hands of the Mainzer Minipressen-Archive of the Gutenberg-Museum. Support is provided by many sponsors.