Bidspirit auction | [HISTORY] - 1816. The Gospels

[HISTORY] - 1816. The Gospels Printed In Armenian Language In Saint Lazarus Island. No Copies In Institutional Libraries - ”I quattro Evangelii. Isola di San Lazzaro”. (Venice). [Armenian Press of Fathers Mechitarists], 1816. 8vo, contemporary calf with gilt-lettered label on spine. Four refined engravings representing the four evangelists. Extremely rare edition of the Gospels in Armenian language possibly printed in very few copies: no other copies are known in institutional libraries. San Lazzaro, a small island in the Venetian lagoon, has a great historical significance to Armenians and has been described as a «little Armenia» The New York Times wrote in 1919: «The island of San Lazzaro, near Venice, has been for over two centuries an Armenian oasis transplanted in the Venetian lagoons». It is one of the richest Armenian enclaves, and, according to sociologist Anny Bakalian, one of the best-known Armenian sites in the world, along with the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. William Dean Howells noted in 1866 that «as a seat of learning, San Lazzaro is famed throughout the Armenian world». The publishing house was established on the island in 1789 and was closed down in 1991. However, the Mekhitarists of San Lazzaro continue publication through their publishing house, Casa Editrice Armena. Until the early 20th century, a number of important publications were made on the island. Khachig Tölölyan wrote of the role of the Mekhitarists and their publications: «With astonishing foresight and energy, the scholar-monks of this diasporic enclave set out to accomplish what [Armenian scholar Marc Nichanian] has described as a totalizing project, a cultural program of research and publication that imagined Armenian life and culture as lamentably fragmented, and launched an effort to equip both the deprived homeland population and the artisans and merchants of the diaspora with the wherewithal of a national culture on the European model». The publications of the Mekhitarists, both in San Lazzaro and Vienna, contributed greatly to the refinement of literary Western Armenian. The San Lazzaro branch became particularly noted in the fields of history, the arts, and literature influenced by the Italian penchant for the arts. The publishing house printed books in dozens of languages, which included themes such as theology, history, linguistics, literature, natural sciences, and economics. They also published textbooks and translations from European languages and editions of classics. Among the publications, the most significant work is the two-volume dictionary of classical Armenian: Բառգիրք Հայկազեան Լեզուի (“Dictionary of the Armenian Language”, 1749–69), which made Armenian the sixth language (after Latin, Greek, French, Italian, and Spanish) to have such a complete dictionary. Its expanded and improved edition (1836–37) is considered a monumental achievement and remains unsurpassed. Condition: A very fine copy, printed on strong paper. Provenance: A not identified manuscript dedication at leaf 2. References: No copies in OPAC ICCU and OCLC. Catalogo dei libri stampati nella Tipografia Armena dell’Isola di San Lazzaro, 1833, p. 3: «I quattro Evangeli in 8°, con rami. 1816». B. Contin, Libri armeni dei secoli 17°-19° nella Biblioteca Universitaria di Padova, 2008. •⁠> This lot is located in and ships from Italy. An Italian export license is required prior to shipment, which may cause delays. The Auction House will take care of the export license at no cost to the buyer. Import duties and taxes in the destination country are the buyer's responsibility.