Estonian Books 500: Relics
The year 2025 will be celebrated in Estonia and Latvia as the 500th anniversary of the printing of the first known books written in the respective languages. This exhibition presents relics of the history of the written word in the area, from the very beginning up to the Estonian Age of Awakening. The theme year’s motto is, “A nation begins with a book.” St Nicholas’ Church (Niguliste) has played an important role in Estonian book history: the church had a library as early as the second half of the 15th century, and the first printed books arrived in 1470. Several sacristans were active as bookbinders and booksellers in the 16th and 17th centuries. The book legacy of the 17th-century pastor Nicolaus Specht is preserved at the Tallinn University Academic Library, and an old linden tree still stands next to the church in memory of the sacristan and chronicler Christian Kelch.
The exhibition reflecting the development of book history has been organised in cooperation with the Tallinn University and Tallinn City Archives.
Curators: Aivar Põldvee (Tallinn University), Lea Kõiv (Tallinn City Archives) and Tiiu Reimo
Exhibition design: Tiit Jürna
Graphic design: Asko Künnap
Coordinator: Annika Teras