Early Armenian Printing

IDC Publishers previously published these titles in the collection Armenia Selected Sources

Early development and other liturgical books in printing. systematic overview over the early The new art of printing had a quick This main goal succeeded in 1666 with Armenian editions as a whole. impact on the Armenian community. the publication of the Bible in Nevertheless the books from Venice Armenian printing started in 1511, that Amsterdam by bishop Oskan of Erevan. listed below give a very good overview is within fifty years after the first editionThe books printed in the Armenian of the early Melchitarists printings, of Gutenberg's Bible. The early printing houses were intended for exportamong them many key works of the development of the printing press amongto the Armenian communities in the founder of the order himself, M1chitar of the Armenians is commonly dated to theOttoman Empire and Iran. Next to these Sebaste. years 1511 1800. Books printed in thatthere originated a European learned and period are called in Armenian "hnatip" ecclesiastical interest in Armenian Likewise, the books listed here from the (old printings). Within this period one Studies; publications that originated Amsterdam Armenian printing house distinguishes the period of 1511 1695 from such circles were printed in Milan,give a fair view on the total production. as the period of Armenian "incunables";Rome and Paris. Among them are the editiones principes it is the period in which Armenian of the Armenian Bible (1666) and of the printing was not yet consolidated, and Armenian renaissance History of Movses of Chorene. various efforts in different places were In the 18th century Armenian book The books from Constantinople can only being made to establish printing houses.printing was more consolidated. Three offer a glimpse of the total rich main centers emerge: Constantinople, production. We are fortunate to find here Early Armenian printing houses Venice, and Rome. The books printed ina number of text-editions that still have The first Armenian printings were Venice and in Constantinople reflect thenot been replaced by more modern ones, published in Venice. In the 16th and 17th so-called "Armenian renaissance", a among them Athanasius of Alexandria centuries printing in the Ottoman renewed interest in Armenian history and the Commentary on the Gospel of Empire proved to be too difficult. The and education, which had its center at John by John Chrysostom. cities chosen for the printing houses the Armenian patriarchate in Lastly, the books in this list from Paris were the European commercial centers; Constantinople and in the establishment and Rome are good samples of the apart from Venice one may mention of the Melchitarist monk order at the Western learned tradition concerning Livorno, Marseille, Amsterdam. The island of San Lazzaro in Venice. The Armenia that originated in this time. choice of these places is related to the printings coming from Rome reflect way these endeavors were financed: the again the interest of the Vatican in first Armenian printers were financially missionary efforts towards Armenia. JJ.S.FVeitenberg dependent on the Armenian mercantile Leiden University network of the time. Early Armenian This selection printing was very much stimulated by The selection offered here is a selection the Armenian church who wished to from existing holdings and does not issue the Armenian version of the Bible intend to offer a truly representative or

Advisor: Prof. Dr. J.J.S. Weitenberg, Leiden University IDC PUBLISHERS The Collection

Place of printingYear Number of Number of titles fiches Venice 1642-1787 25 174 Rome 1642-1784 4 6 Paris 1633 1 9 Amsterdam 1664-1717 14 105 Constantinople 1700-1789 32 152 Total 76 446

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