Movsès Baghramian (Մովսէս Բաղրամեան), Exhortation (Յորդորակ) - Lot 234

Movsès Baghramian (Մովսէս Բաղրամեան), Exhortation (Յորդորակ), 1772 Madras, Hakob Shahamirian imprint, 1772. 240 pages. Titles, endpapers and decorations. This is also the first Armenian book printed in India, whose full title is New Reading Book entitled Exhortation for Armenian Youth, comprising a historical and geographical account of Armenia, preceded by a selection of religious poems. The book was printed by Shahmir Shahmirian (or Shahamirian), India's wealthiest Armenian merchant in the second half of the 18th century. His printing house was named after Shahamir's favorite son, Hakob/Hagop/Jacob Shahamirian, but was run by his father Shahmir, notably after Hakob's untimely death on his father's tobacco plantation near Malacca in 1774. Extremely rare Armenian edition of Les Indes. Shahamir Shahamirian and his tutor Movsès Baghramian encourage young Armenians to learn about their historic homeland and its situation under foreign domination. In later years, the two men would propose a secular Armenian Constitution. Period leather binding (rubbed) with handwritten title page. A very fine copy. Extremely rare book.