Wkład oficyny drukarskiej Wirzbiętów w produkcję różnowierczej książki teologicznej w Krakowie w latach 1555/1557-1609

Abstract

Since the beginning of the invention of print by John Gutenberg the typographic activity has been linked with the theological book. The origins of printing in the Polish territories were also associated with the theological book. Printers arrived in Poland ca. 1473. Due scarce material sources and universal anonymity the name of the first impresser had long been unknown. Today it is assumed that the first typographer in the Polish Republic was Kasper Straube. The majority of printers in the fourteenth and at the turn of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries lived in Kraków. The capital of Poland housed the seat of the central state authorities, one of the oldest bishopric of the Gniezno metropolis, a well-known university, and a trade centre. With regard to confessional reasons, the majority of theological works printed in Kraków was written in the Catholic spirit. Protestant works were made in typographic workshops in the second half of the sixteenth century. The first Protestant impresser was Maciej Wirzbięta, an indefatigable advocate of Calvinism (1555/7-1605). He is known to have joined the authorities of the zbor in Kraków in 1570. His editorial activity was commenced with Mikołaj Rej’s Postylla (1557). Wirzbiçta’s post looks impressive with regard to the number of printed matter. It is estimated in the years of 1557-1605 175 items were printed there that are well-known today. In 1605, when Maciej Wirzbięta died, after July 1 Ilh there appeared the Wandering Agreement Translated from Greek with an address: “in Wirzbięta ancestors.” Officially the impressing machine was run by son Maciej Paweł, but he died as early as five years later. During these five years the printing house became Catholic. Formally, the printing house ceased to work in 1616, when Maciej’s daughter Elżbieta passed the workshop on to Marcin Szamotulczyk, the husband of her later sister Katarzyna.