Faust, Or Fust, Johann, an associate of Gutenberg and Schoffer in the first development of the art of printing, born in Mentz, died in Paris about 1466. He was a wealthy goldsmith, and probably had no share in the invention of the art. His connection with it commenced in 1450, when Gutenberg induced him to enter into partnership with him, and advance funds to establish the business of printing at Mentz, Faust having a lien on the materials as security. The only known productions of the press of Faust and Gutenberg are an indulgence granted by Pope Nicholas V. to Paulinas Chappe, ambassador of the king of Cyprus, of which 13 copies on vellum printed in 1454 remain, and two copies of a second edition printed in 1455, and an Appeal to Christendom against the Turks," supposed to belong to the former year. The celebrated folio Latin Bible of the Mazarin library is also attributed to this period. This is a close imitation of the best writing, the rubricated capitals being written in by hand. A copy of it, the only complete one in America, is in the library of Mr. James Lenox of New York; it cost $2,600. In 1455 Faust put an end to the partnership by suing Gutenberg for his advances, and taking possession of the greater part of the stock in satisfaction of the debt.

Faust then associated with himself Peter Schoffer, his son-in-law, who had been in their employment, and had perfected the process of making movable metallic types by the invention of the punch. The first complete result of this new invention was the Rationale Divinorum Offici-orum of Durandus (large folio, 1459). Two editions of a psalter, beautifully executed, had previously appeared with the imprint of Faust and Schoffer (1457 and 1459), but in these the large capitals were cut on wood. Copies of nine other works from their press with date and imprint still exist, including a Latin Vulgate Bible (2 vols, .large fob, 1462), and the De Officiis and Paradoxa of Cicero (small fob, 1466; a copy of this, the first printed classic author, is in the Astor library, New York). At the sacking of Mentz in 1462 by one of the two rival archbishops, Adolph of Nassau, Faust's workmen were scattered, and the printing process, which had been kept as a secret in Mentz, was divulged by them in other countries. A short time afterward, however, Faust was enabled to resume his operations.

He made several journeys to Paris, where he is supposed to have died of the plague.