Citizens of Nizhniy Novgorod will get a chance to see the first printed book published in 1564
Citizens of Nizhniy Novgorod got a unique opportunity to observe the first printed publication — the Acts and the Epistles of the Apostles (or simply the Apostle), completed in 1564. It was published by Ivan Fyodorov. In honour of the 450th anniversary of Russian printing, Regional Universal Scientific Library of Nizhny Novgorod has unveiled a new exhibition called the Art of Printed Books.
The exhibition features 50 items, where the biggest part is dedicated to ecclesiastical books. The funds of the Regional Universal Scientific Library of Nizhny Novgorod are home to numerous rare cultural heritages. The Acts and the Epistles of the Apostles (the Apostle), the first printed book published by Ivan Fyodorov and completed in 1564, is among the rarities. Contemporaries call it a masterpiece of technical work and say the Apostle has no misprint in it.
Nina Kustova, Administrator of Rare Books and manuscripts Department at the Regional Universal Scientific Library of Nizhny Novgorod:
«This book is amazing with the technique it is executed by. It was the latest achievement in the technique of that time. Earlier books did not include a title page, but an epilogue, so it became the first publicistic work.»
Publications are made in the Old Slavonic language, which has most likely became a sign of the times. First of all, religious books were to print then. Apparently this fact influenced the new exhibition and attracted the attention of Nizhny Novgorod Ecclesiastical Seminary students. The students start learning Church Slavonic language from the first grade, thus they can easily read these pages.
Alexey Korpukhov, student of Nizhny Novgorod Ecclesiastical Seminary:
«This is not a spoken language; it is only used in publications or during Orthodox divine services. It has a lot of curious peculiarities. For example, it counts a lot more cases.»
It is natural that calligraphy of the first printed book can lay a claim to be decorated. The headpieces and miniatures in the Apostle made by Ivan Fyodorov himself strongly impressed the book’s contemporaries so they kept on copying them in Russian printing.
There are only 12 engravings presented in the large size from 48 possible. Each of them is a truly unique piece of artwork. Fragments of the Bible stories are decorated with patterns made of flowers and cones.
Olga Lisyatnikova, Director of the Regional Universal Scientific Library of Nizhny Novgorod:
«I believe the exposition will be interesting for schoolchildren, students and for scientific individuals as well. The role of Russian printing and the first printed book cannot be exaggerated as it affected both the formation of Russian statehood and the formation of the Russian language.»
Curious enough how Russian printing was able to set the highest bar at the very beginning if its emergence as well as to keep the readers interested right up until our time.
Citizens of Nizhniy Novgorod will get a chance to see the first printed book published in 1564Source: nnovgorod.rfn.ru
