Early Armenian Printing

Early development
The new art of printing had a quick impact on the Armenian community. Armenian printing started in 1511, that is within fifty years after the first edition of Gutenberg’s Bible. The early development of the printing press among the Armenians is commonly dated to the years 1511– 1800. Books printed in that period are called in Armenian “hnatip” (old printings). Within this period one distinguishes the period of 1511 – 1695 as the period of Armenian “incunables”; it is the period in which Armenian printing was not yet consolidated, and various efforts in different places were being made to establish printing houses.

Early Armenian printing houses
The first Armenian printings were published in Venice. In the 16th and 17th centuries printing in the Ottoman Empire proved to be too difficult. The cities chosen for the printing houses were the European commercial centers; apart from Venice one may mention Livorno, Marseille, Amsterdam. The choice of these places is related to the way these endeavors were financed: the first Armenian printers were financially dependent on the Armenian mercantile network of the time. Early Armenian printing was very much stimulated by the Armenian church who wished to issue the Armenian version of the Bible and other liturgical books in printing. This main goal succeeded in 1666 with the publication of the Bible in Amsterdam by bishop Oskan of Erevan. The books printed in the Armenian printing houses were intended for export to the Armenian communities in the Ottoman Empire and Iran. Next to these there originated a European learned and ecclesiastical interest in Armenian Studies; publications that originated from such circles were printed in Milan, Rome and Paris.

Armenian renaissance
In the 18th century Armenian book printing was more consolidated. Three main centers emerge: Constantinople, Venice, and Rome. The books printed in Venice and in Constantinople reflect the so-called “Armenian renaissance”, a renewed interest in Armenian history and education, which had its center at the Armenian patriarchate in Constantinople and in the establishment of the Mekhitarist monk order at the island of San Lazzaro in Venice. The printings coming from Rome reflect again the interest of the Vatican in missionary efforts towards Armenia.

This selection
The selection offered here is a selection from existing holdings and does not intend to offer a truly representative or systematic overview over the early Armenian editions as a whole. Nevertheless the books from Venice listed below give a very good overview of the early Mekhitarists printings, among them many key works of the founder of the order himself, Mkhitar of Sebaste.

Likewise, the books listed here from the Amsterdam Armenian printing house give a fair view on the total production. Among them are the editiones principes of the Armenian Bible (1666) and of the History of Movses of Chorene.

The books from Constantinople can only offer a glimpse of the total rich production. We are fortunate to find here a number of text-editions that still have not been replaced by more modern ones, among them Athanasius of Alexandria and the Commentary on the Gospel of John by John Chrysostom.

Lastly, the books in this list from Paris and Rome are good samples of the Western learned tradition concerning Armenia that originated in this time.