Wrocławskie obchody rocznic rozmaitych początków drukarstwa (na świecie, na Śląsku i we Wrocławiu) w świetle druków okolicznościowych
Anniversaries of the Beginnings of Printing in Wrocław: A Study Based on Ephemera

Summary/Abstract: The article examines the tradition of celebrating anniversaries related to the origins of printing - both globally and locally in Silesia and Wrocław - through the lens of occasional prints. The study is motivated by the 550th anniversary (2025) of the first known print produced in Wrocław by Kaspar Elyan in 1475. The author analyses a corpus of 59 independent prints and over 120 textual units, including poems, songs, theatrical works, speeches, and scholarly publications documenting jubilee celebrations from the 17th to the 21st century. The paper situates Wrocław within the broader European tradition of Gutenberg celebrations (Jubelgedächtnis der Buchdruckerkunst), tracing their origins to the 16th century and highlighting their cultural, social, and scholarly significance. It demonstrates how occasional prints not only document these events but also serve as valuable sources for studying the history of printing, public life, and typographic culture. The analysis reveals a shift in the character of celebrations over time - from richly ceremonial, community-based festivities involving music, literature, and performance to predominantly academic and commemorative activities after 1945. The study also reflects on the changing status of printing in Wrocław and the declining role of printers as active cultural agents. The article concludes that occasional prints provide unique insight into the evolution of bibliological awareness and cultural memory associated with the history of printing.

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