Noble Fragments - Book Launch with Michael Visontay

Join us for an exciting book launch on March 28, 2025 at the New York Public Library that entails the true story of literary obsession, rare-book intrigue, and a family’s unexpected link to the world’s most famous book.

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 the event | Please be sure to register for an In-Person Ticket. Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. 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.