Earliest Slovenian Books : Catechism (KATEKIZEM, 1550); ABECEDARIJ (1550); ABECEDARIJ (1555)

The three books reproduced in this volume stand at the beginning of the Slovenian literature and culture. The protestant pastor and preacher Primoz Trubar (Primus Truber) wrote and published the first two Slovenian books, the Catechism and the "ABC" in 1550. They were printed in Tuebingen, Germany. Trubar used German letters in his first two books, but in the second "ABC" published in 1555 he switched over to Latin letters. He published the "ABC"s so that Slovenians could learn to read and write in their own language.Today the three books are preserved in one single bound volume in the Vienna National Library. From this original the reproduction was made, printed in four colors, so - although the original is printed in black and white - the new volume shows in detail the present state of the original books.The new volume is an exact reproduction of the original (15.5cm x 11cm), hand-bound in leather, resembling the leather of the original book, and richly hand tooled in a design taken from the original, redesigned to suit this edition. There is an accompanying book of commentary with two sections - the first a literary history and the second a bibliography - in Slovenian, English and German. The new volume and the commentary are sold in an attractive hand-made container. The edition was published in 2000 to honor the 500-year anniversary of the first Slovenian books. Only 999 numbered copies were produced.Trubar, Primoz is the author of 'Earliest Slovenian Books : Catechism (KATEKIZEM, 1550); ABECEDARIJ (1550); ABECEDARIJ (1555)', published 2000 under ISBN 9789612101664 and ISBN 9612101663.