THE ROLE OF "ENFIAJYANTS" PUBLISHING HOUSE IN 1856-1870 IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARMENIAN TYPOGRAPHY OF TIFLIS

Abstract

In 1512, the first Armenian books were printed in Venice, Italy. In the following centuries, Armenian publishing houses were opened in other countries of Europe and Asia, thus Armenian books, periodicals were printed. But only in the early 19th century, printing entered the Caucasus, the Georgian-Armenian reality. In 1819, the Armenian publishing house was founded in Tiflis by Archbishop Nerses Ashtaraketsu, leader of the Armenian Diocese of Virk. It was not only the first in Armenian, but also in Georgian reality.There, the first Armenian book was printed in 1823. The article reveals one of the most important centers of Armenian printing in Tiflis, the "Enfiajyants" publishing house in the years 1856-1870. In the first stage it was opened by the brothers Avetik and Hambardzum Enfiajyants in 1856, then it passed to Hambardzum Enfiajiants (1857-1859), in the second stage Hambardzum Enfiajyants cooperated with Gabriel Melkoumeants (1859-1863). A new phase began in 1863, Hambardzum again managed the publishing house alone. Gabriel Sundukeants and Davit Rostineants (1864-1870) collaborated with him in 1864-1870. Probably due to financial complications, in 1881, the publishing house passed to Markianos Rotineantsi, one of the associates’ son, Davit Rotineantsi.