VII International Book Fair in Podgorica, which this year takes place under the slogan “100% Book” and, within the Fair, the exhibition of old and rare books, prepared by the National Library of Montenegro “Djurdje Crnojevic”, were opened on May 7th in the garage of Delta City in Podgorica.
The famous British writer Tariq Ali, opening the fair, said that in Europe and over the entire world there is a tendency to spread the impact of the books, and that literature is a force that is able to integrate the diversities of our world today. The Director of the National Library of Montenegro, Jelena Djurovic opened the exhibition of old and rare books. – Call of the distinguished organizer for the National Library “Djurdje Crnojevic” to present part of the richness of the written heritage of Montenegro at the Fair, was, I would say, as much appropriate as natural. It’s because the National Library is not only a treasury of Montenegrin printed word and a symbol of culture in the country, but also it’s a kind of emblem of one of the most important moments in the world history of publishing: Djurdje Crnojevic, the ruler of Montenegro at the end of the fifteenth century, after whom the Library was named, published not only the first Cyrillic book in this part of Europe – “Oktoih prvoglasnik”, but he also established the first state printing house in history. Therefore, the Book Fair in Podgorica is the right place for the readers to get familiar with the new works of world and domestic literature, and to recall the history of the written word and life of the book through the ages – said Jelena Djurovic. For the exhibition, National Library “Djurdje Crnojevic” chose 50 representative examples of old and rare publications from its very rich and diverse collection. Bibliophile editions of incunabula are distinguished among the exhibits – books printed in Crnojevic printing house until the year 1500., post incunabula – books printed in the sixteenth century, and old and rare books and periodicals. Among them, the following ones can be pointed out: Oktoih prvoglasnik, Psaltir s posljedovanjem, and Molitvenik, and the first headlines of the Montenegrin press: Crnogorac, Glas Crnogorca and Crnogorka magazine. Fair visitors will have the rare opportunity to see the original Montenegrin books: Oktoih Petoglasnik from 1560. This book was printed in Venice in the printing house of Vincenzo Vukovic Podgoricanin. Trebnik from 1837. is also exposed – it’s a book from another famous Montenegrin printing house that belonged to the ruler, bishop and brilliant poet – Petar II Petrovic Njegos. The first editions of Njegos’s major works are presented too. A special segment of the exhibition consists of old and rare books in foreign languages, including Dante’s Divine Comedy from 1908; Shakespeare’s Complete Works from 1903., in the Oxford Miniatures edition; Historical and Political Travel to Montenegro, by the French traveler Viala de Sommier from 1820, and other bibliophile editions that are important for their rarity, beauty of printing, bindings and illustrations. In addition to this representative exhibition, National Library presented its distinctive issues in the field of librarianship and cultural history, and valuable bibliographical items. VII International Book Fair in Podgorica is open until May 14.
VII International Book Fair in Podgorica, which this year takes place under the slogan “100% Book” and, within the Fair, the exhibition of old and rare books, prepared by the National Library of Montenegro “Djurdje Crnojevic”, were opened on May 7th in the garage of Delta City in Podgorica.
The famous British writer Tariq Ali, opening the fair, said that in Europe and over the entire world there is a tendency to spread the impact of the books, and that literature is a force that is able to integrate the diversities of our world today. The Director of the National Library of Montenegro, Jelena Djurovic opened the exhibition of old and rare books.
– Call of the distinguished organizer for the National Library “Djurdje Crnojevic” to present part of the richness of the written heritage of Montenegro at the Fair, was, I would say, as much appropriate as natural. It’s because the National Library is not only a treasury of Montenegrin printed word and a symbol of culture in the country, but also it’s a kind of emblem of one of the most important moments in the world history of publishing: Djurdje Crnojevic, the ruler of Montenegro at the end of the fifteenth century, after whom the Library was named, published not only the first Cyrillic book in this part of Europe – “Oktoih prvoglasnik”, but he also established the first state printing house in history. Therefore, the Book Fair in Podgorica is the right place for the readers to get familiar with the new works of world and domestic literature, and to recall the history of the written word and life of the book through the ages – said Jelena Djurovic.
For the exhibition, National Library “Djurdje Crnojevic” chose 50 representative examples of old and rare publications from its very rich and diverse collection.
Bibliophile editions of incunabula are distinguished among the exhibits – books printed in Crnojevic printing house until the year 1500., post incunabula – books printed in the sixteenth century, and old and rare books and periodicals. Among them, the following ones can be pointed out: Oktoih prvoglasnik, Psaltir s posljedovanjem, and Molitvenik, and the first headlines of the Montenegrin press: Crnogorac, Glas Crnogorca and Crnogorka magazine.
Fair visitors will have the rare opportunity to see the original Montenegrin books: Oktoih Petoglasnik from 1560. This book was printed in Venice in the printing house of Vincenzo Vukovic Podgoricanin. Trebnik from 1837. is also exposed – it’s a book from another famous Montenegrin printing house that belonged to the ruler, bishop and brilliant poet – Petar II Petrovic Njegos. The first editions of Njegos’s major works are presented too.
A special segment of the exhibition consists of old and rare books in foreign languages, including Dante’s Divine Comedy from 1908; Shakespeare’s Complete Works from 1903., in the Oxford Miniatures edition; Historical and Political Travel to Montenegro, by the French traveler Viala de Sommier from 1820, and other bibliophile editions that are important for their rarity, beauty of printing, bindings and illustrations.
In addition to this representative exhibition, National Library presented its distinctive issues in the field of librarianship and cultural history, and valuable bibliographical items.
VII International Book Fair in Podgorica is open until May 14.