Our Notes & References

Bortoli’s Gospels in Armenian with a new set of plates: this copy in a charming binding of unusual yellow morocco richly gilt.

Antonio Bortoli (c. 1691-1794) was a printer and publisher who produced several books on behalf of the Mekhitarist monks before they set up their own printing press on San Lazzaro in 1789. Although Bortoli published in Italian and several other languages, for much of the 18th century he and his descendants held a monopoly, granted by the Venetian Senate, on Armenian and Greek language publications in the city. Many of these works were religious in nature, but Bortoli also published works on history, philosophy, and linguistics (including language primers on Italian grammar).

This is at least a second edition of Bortoli’s Gospels, following the first in 1732 (neither edition is in Darlow & Moule, but recorded by the Armenian National Library). This 1759 edition includes re-engraved plates with much more life-like and sympathetic Evangelists, as well as a fresh suite of headpieces at the beginning of each Gospel. Both of Bortoli’s editions are noteworthy for their extensive cross-referencing in the margins, which appear to mark corroborating passages elsewhere in the Bible.

Rarely found with apparently no copies traced in WorldCat. We could find at least two copies in Armenia and possibly one in the Venice Mekhitarist library; and a further two copies at auction in the last decade (one we handled and the other being the Melikian copy, much smaller and in worse condition but in a silver binding, sold for 11,200 euros).