What invention by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450 revolutionized book production?

The invention that revolutionized book production around 1450 by Johannes Gutenberg was the printing press, specifically using movable type. Gutenberg's printing press allowed for the efficient mass production of written texts, which significantly lowered the cost of books and made them more accessible to a wider audience. Prior to this invention, books were primarily hand-copied, which was a time-consuming and labor-intensive process that limited the number of available copies.

The movable type aspect is particularly important because it enabled printers to rearrange individual letters to create different pages, rather than needing to carve new wooden blocks for each new page or piece of text. This innovation not only sped up production but also allowed for greater flexibility and creativity in printing various works. The result was a substantial increase in literacy rates and the spread of knowledge throughout Europe during the Renaissance and beyond.

While the other options mention related concepts, they do not encompass the full revolutionary impact that Gutenberg's printing press achieved. Parchment was simply a writing material used before the printing press, and the press machine in itself does not capture the transformative effect of movable type in the context of book production.