ԱՍՏՈՒԱԾԱՇՈՒՆՉ ՄԱՏԵԱՆ (The Bible), 1805 – San Lazzaro Press, Venice, 1805

Edited by: Հովհաննես Զոհրապեան (Hovhannes Zohrabian)

This rare and historically significant Armenian Bible, titled Աշունչ Մատեան (Ashounch Matean), was printed in 1805 at the renowned San Lazzaro printing house in Venice. Edited by the esteemed scholar Hovhannes Zohrabian, it includes both the Old and New Testaments in Classical Armenian (Grabar).

Key Features:

• Folio format (305 x 210mm), printed in double columns.

• Richly decorated with an engraved vignette on the title page, a full-page engraved illustration, and a historiated initial.

• Noted in bibliographic sources such as Darlow & Moule (1787) and Nersessian (267).

• The binding features original boards with preserved metal corner bosses, though the structure is now loose due to age.

Condition:

• The book is complete, with light damp staining on the opening pages and a few small wormholes.

• Some old institutional markings are visible, with minimal impact on the legibility of the text.

• A unique collector’s item for those interested in early Armenian print history and ecclesiastical literature.