Priceless Bible goes on display

One of the world's rarest texts is going on public display in Oxford as part of World Book Day.

Oxford University's copy of the 15th Century Gutenberg Bible will be on show on Thursday.

People can view the book between 0900 and 1645 GMT at the Divinity School and an expert will be on hand to answer questions.

The Bible was the first Western book to be made with moveable type and heralded a new era in distributing information.

Richard Ovenden, from the Bodleian Library, said: "The Bible is the centrepiece of the Bodleian's outstanding collection of books produced during the years immediately following Johann Gutenberg's invention.

"It is being shown to the public to aid our understanding and appreciation of the role of books in shaping civilized society."

The book was produced in Mainz, Germany, in about1454, and was bought by the Bodleian Library for the sum of £100 in 1793.

A spokesperson for the library said their copy is one of the best preserved examples of the Bible.

World Book Day, organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) aims to promote books and reading around the world.

It was marked in more than 30 countries last year.