500 Years of Belarusian Book Printing

MOSCOW, 6 September (BelTA) – The Belarusian stand, which was opened as part of the 30^th Moscow International Book Fair on 6 September, is dedicated to the 500^th anniversary of book printing in Belarus, the press service of the Embassy of Belarus in Russia told BelTA.

During the fair the Belarusian delegation presented a copy of a 16^th century printing press, which had been recreated upon the initiative of the Information Ministry. The Belarusian historian, deltiologist, and collector Vladimir Likhodedov had been studying printing trade for a long time and had consulted the documents that describe the technology of creating paper and printing books. Gravures of the Belarusian book printing pioneer Francysk Skaryna were used to create a printing press. Molds and forms with text from the Bible have been cast specifically for the printing press.

Head of the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Media of Russia Mikhail Seslavinsky, Advisor to the Russian President for Cultural Affairs Vladimir Tolstoi, Greek Culture and Sport Minister Lydia Koniordou, many heads of foreign delegations, representatives of diplomatic missions, Russian and foreign publishing houses, and dozens of reporters visited the Belarusian stand after the book fair was opened.

Belarusian First Deputy Information Minister Igor Lutsky and guests used ancient technologies to make a copy of Francysk Skaryna’s gravure on handmade paper.

The delegation of Belarusian book publishers and book distributors has brought primarily books dedicated to the 500^th anniversary of Belarusian book printing to Moscow this year. Igor Lutsky underlined that Belarus traditionally takes part in the Moscow International Book Fair. Some 20 books about Francysk Skaryna were published in 2016-2017 and presented in Moscow on 6 September. The number included an album published by the publishing house Belarusian Encyclopedia named after Petrus Brovka. The album won the grand prix at the 14^th CIS contest Book Art.

Other top Belarusian publishing houses also presented their products, including textbooks and fiction, at the Moscow International Book Fair.

The Moscow International Book Fair has been held since 1977. It is Russia’s largest book forum. This year the event has gathered over 600 publishing houses from 40 countries.