The Armenian colony in Livorno (traditionally known as Leghorn in English) gradually developed during the second half of the sixteenth and the first decades of the seventeenth century. And it was unsurprisingly during the seventeenth century, when the community was flourishing, that a number of printing houses specializing in Armenian books were founded, even though these ventures proved short-lived. At that time, the aspirant printer was able to work in a relatively liberal environment, keeping in touch with people who could provide equipment and teach him how to use it, as well as fellow countrymen who would assist him and, most importantly, help finance the enterprise. On the downside, the operations were constantly under surveillance by agents of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. To our knowledge, two Armenian printing houses were active in Livorno during this period. The first was set up by Yovhannēs Ĵułayec‘i (John of Julfa), who in 1644 managed to print a Psalter incorporating a number of prayers before he was forced to leave in a hurry, heading east and taking the whole printing press with him. A few decades later, three Livorno-based merchants, originally from New Julfa, sponsored the printing of the first Armenian Bible, which was published by Oskan Erewanc‘i in Amsterdam between 1666 and 1668. Perhaps as a result of these contacts, Oskan, who had inherited the printing house dedicated to Surb Ēĵmiacin ew Surb Sargis Zōravar (Holy Ēĵmiacin and St Sergius Stratelates), decided to move his business to Livorno. Here he published four books between 1669 and 1672, all on a religious subject. In 1672 Oskan moved his printing house once again, this time to Marseille, thus marking the demise of Armenian printing in Livorno.
La colonia armena di Livorno si formò progressivamente durante la seconda metà del Cinquecento ed i primi decenni del secolo successivo. L’installazione di tipografie per la stampa di libri armeni nella città labronica, per quanto temporanea essa fosse, come è logico avvenne nel periodo di maggior fioritura della comunità armeno-livornese, il Seicento, quando l’aspirante stampatore poteva trovare in città un clima relativamente aperto, le persone che gli procurassero le attrezzature e gli trasmettessero le conoscenze tecniche per la stampa, i connazionali che lo aiutassero nel lavoro o che lo finanziassero. Il lato negativo della situazione era invece una costante sorveglianza da parte di emissari della Congregazione de Propaganda Fide. Sappiamo di due tipografie armene che fecero tappa a Livorno. La prima fu fondata da Yovhannēs Ĵułayec‘i (Giovanni di Giulfa) e dai suoi torchi, nel 1644, uscì un Salterio, comprendente anche alcune preghiere, prima che lo stampatore fosse costretto ad allontanarsi in tutta fretta, per l’Oriente, portando comunque con sé l’attrezzatura tipografica. Qualche decennio dopo tre mercanti di Nuova Giulfa attivi a Livorno finanziarono la stampa della Bibbia in armeno, realizzata da Oskan Erewanc‘i ad Amsterdam tra il 1666 ed il 1668. Forse anche a seguito di questi contatti, Oskan, che aveva ereditato la stamperia intitolata a Surb Ēĵmiacin ew Surb Sargis Zōravar (Santa Ēĵmiacin e San Sergio Stratelata), decise di trasferirla a Livorno dove, tra il 1669 ed il 1672, essa produsse quattro opere, tutte di carattere religioso. Nello stesso 1672 questa tipografia venne poi trasferita a Marsiglia e, dopo quella di Oskan, non vi furono più tipografie armene a Livorno.
La stampa armena a Livorno - Armenian Printing in Livorno
Alessandro Orengo
2020-01-01
Abstract
The Armenian colony in Livorno (traditionally known as Leghorn in English) gradually developed during the second half of the sixteenth and the first decades of the seventeenth century. And it was unsurprisingly during the seventeenth century, when the community was flourishing, that a number of printing houses specializing in Armenian books were founded, even though these ventures proved short-lived. At that time, the aspirant printer was able to work in a relatively liberal environment, keeping in touch with people who could provide equipment and teach him how to use it, as well as fellow countrymen who would assist him and, most importantly, help finance the enterprise. On the downside, the operations were constantly under surveillance by agents of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. To our knowledge, two Armenian printing houses were active in Livorno during this period. The first was set up by Yovhannēs Ĵułayec‘i (John of Julfa), who in 1644 managed to print a Psalter incorporating a number of prayers before he was forced to leave in a hurry, heading east and taking the whole printing press with him. A few decades later, three Livorno-based merchants, originally from New Julfa, sponsored the printing of the first Armenian Bible, which was published by Oskan Erewanc‘i in Amsterdam between 1666 and 1668. Perhaps as a result of these contacts, Oskan, who had inherited the printing house dedicated to Surb Ēĵmiacin ew Surb Sargis Zōravar (Holy Ēĵmiacin and St Sergius Stratelates), decided to move his business to Livorno. Here he published four books between 1669 and 1672, all on a religious subject. In 1672 Oskan moved his printing house once again, this time to Marseille, thus marking the demise of Armenian printing in Livorno.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
