The Presidential Library has made its oldest book artifact accessible to the general public. For many years the volume was preserved in the Rare Books Collection, and it is now being presented to readers for the first time. The item is an invaluable relic that is more than four centuries old.

The item in question is the book “Historia di Parma” (“History of Parma”), which was published in Italy in 1591. This exceptional folio has endured across centuries and historical transformations, surviving to the present day. It is currently considered the earliest printed book not only within the holdings of the Presidential Library but also in the entire Republic of Azerbaijan.

The historical significance of the volume has been officially recognized: the book has been included in the Register of Book Monuments of Azerbaijan. Far more than simply an old publication, “Historia di Parma” stands as a genuine relic of the Renaissance period and a remarkable example of the bibliographic heritage safeguarded in Azerbaijan.

The author of the book is the prominent Italian scholar, jurist, and historian Bonaventura Angeli. His work “La Historia della Città di Parma, et la Descrittione del Fiume Parma” (1591) is a foundational 16th-century chronicle detailing the history, geography, and culture of Parma, Italy.

Divided into eight sections, the publication narrates the origins and historical evolution of Parma and highlights the importance of the Parma River, which played a crucial role in the destiny of the region. The volume should be regarded not merely as a printed work but as an authentic historical record preserving the memory of the city through the centuries.

The material characteristics of the book are equally impressive. It is an authentic example of Renaissance printing craftsmanship, produced long before the emergence and development of modern printing technology. The copy is bound in hand-crafted natural leather typical of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Fine gold stamping accentuates the distinguished character of the edition, while the thick handmade paper manufactured according to Renaissance printing traditions has enabled the volume to remain in exceptionally good condition over several centuries.

Today the book is preserved in the Rare Books Collection of the Presidential Library and is displayed in a specially designed glass case that ensures the appropriate conditions for its long-term conservation.
To introduce this remarkable rarity to a broader audience, the Presidential Library has produced a special presentation video dedicated to the edition. This initiative allows viewers to encounter a unique historical artifact without leaving their country.

The video reveals the history of the book, the life of its author, and the significance of the work for the study of Parma’s past. Through rare visual footage, viewers can observe the oldest printed edition preserved in the country, explore its contents, and metaphorically return to the year 1591, when the story of this remarkable folio began.