Marking the 350th anniversary of Peter the Great: International Scientific Conference and Exhibition, dedicated to the book culture of the Peter I’s era, open in Moscow

On June 2-3, 2022, the Department of Scientific Research of Rare Books (Book Museum) hosts the International Scientific Conference “What a Beautiful First Print: Round, Measured, Pure”. Book culture of the Peter I’s era in the conference room of the Russian State Library.

The conference is dedicated to a broad variety of research themes, related to the history of printed and handwritten books, and book-publishing sphere during the reign of Peter I.

The discussion topics include:

– copies of publications of the Peter the Great’s era, preserved in different collections in Russia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Serbia;

– image of Peter I in the book culture of XVIII-XX centuries;

– fates of the books and book collections of the Peter the Great’s era, and others.

The quote by Vasily Kirillovich Trediakovsky, used in the conference’s title, symbolizes the unity of interests between scientists and specialists-humanitarians of different spheres. The participants of the conference include workers of libraries, museums, archives, scientific research establishments and universities, interested in the book culture of the end of XVII-XVIII centuries.

The exhibition Celebration of Peter the Great. Engraving. Book. Document has also been prepared for the conference and will be opened on June 2 in the Blue Room of the Russian State Library.

The exposition showcases handwritten documents, books and engravings, explores stages of book printing during the Peter I’s era, and tells about the changes in books during the new historical environment within the country’s development.

The exhibition includes more than 80 items from the library’s collections. Those are authentic archival documents with Peter I’s signatures, rare domestic and foreign publications of the end of XVII-XVIII centuries, engravings created in different techniques, - portraits of Peter I, city landscapes, geographical maps, etc.

The exhibition will run until June 24, 2022.