The art of the book in Warsaw printers’ workshops in the 17th and 18th centuries

Abstract

The author starts with presentation of elements constituting the book aesthetics (the art of the book), and further describes activities of bookbinders and Warsaw printers from the 17^th and 18^th centuries for the beauty of the book. He presents history of book aesthetics in Warsaw, starting with the first permanent printer Jan Rossowski, and an ephemeric venture of the printer and engraver Jan Aleksander Gorczyn. The article mentions also – among others – the role of such institutions as printing houses of Piotr Elert, the Piarists, Wawrzyniec Mitzler de Kolof, as well as the Załuski Library, the Society of Literates in Poland, and the others, for development of beautiful book in Warsaw. The author postulates further systematic studies on circumstances and factors influencing development of the art of the book in Warsaw in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, basing on rich source material available in archive, libraries and museums.