The Greek Editions of Aldus Manutius and His Greek Collaborators (c. 1494–1515), Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice, September 17–October 24, 2016

The Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, in collaboration with the Marciana Library, organise the exhibition “The Greek editions of Aldus Manutius and his Greek collaborators (c. 1494-1515)”.

Aldus began his printing activity in 1495. He wished to make Greek language and literature better known to the public, because, as he wrote: “How could a person who does not know Greek imitate the Greek authors who by everybody’s account are the most versed in all the sciences and nothing comparable to their works has come out of the Latin language?”.

In order to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the death of Aldus Manutius, the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation published a volume in honour of the great printer, edited by K. Sp. Staikos, with an introduction by Stephanos Kaklamanis. The edition focuses on the Greek collaborators of Aldus, such as Arsenios Apostolis and Marcus Musurus, who accompanied him in his first steps in printing and publishing.

The Historical Library of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, one of the richest libraries of the Greek world, with incunabula and other early editions covering nearly the whole of Classical Greek and Byzantine literature, proudly exhibits at the Libreria Sansoviniana 35 books from its rich collection of Aldine Greek editions, complemented by Aldines from the Marciana Collection and the library of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation.