THE PRESS OF THE TOWN BRASSÓ (1625– )
 

In the 17th century printing in Brassó (Braşov, RO) was neither continuous nor comparable in its significance with the previous century. After a pause of thirty years in 1625 printing activity was renewed in this Transylvanian Saxon town. The town press was lead by Martin Wolfgang from 1625, however, and the equipment of this press had hardly any common with the famous Honterus-press of teh previous century.

The crest of Brassó (Braşov, RO) encircled by laurel wreath from a book printed in 1658.  One of the few wood-cut blocks originating from the Honterus-press. It was first used to decorate a Brassó printing in 1556
The crest of Brassó (Braşov, RO) encircled by laurel wreath from a book printed in 1658. One of the few wood-cut blocks originating from the Honterus-press. It was first used to decorate a Brassó printing in 1556

The name of Martin Wolfgang is known from the Klöss-printing shop, as he was in charge of the press in the Upper Hungarian town in 1620, as long as Jakob Klöss jun. reached his full age. There is only a calendar that preserved Wolfgang's name in Bártfa.
Next time his name appears, he is the printer of the Brassó town press in 1625. He continued his activity there until 1632, while from 1638 there is a new printer (and owner) of the shop, Michael Herrmann.

The view of Brassó (Braşov, RO) in a contemporary engraving
The view of Brassó (Braşov, RO) in a contemporary engraving

From the scarcely surviving roducts of the Brassó press it seems as if printed works left the ress only in every second or third year. From the ten-year period between 1625–1635 we have knowledge of only six printings. The press was working for the German-speaking Lutheran Saxons of the town Brassó and therefore the majority of its products is German.

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LITERATURE:
Régi magyarországi nyomtatványok 2, 1601–1635. Szerk.: Borsa Gedeon és Hervay Ferenc. Budapest 1983.
( Rövidítve: RMNy)
Borsa Gedeon: Könyvtörténeti írások I. A hazai nyomdászat a 15–17. században. Budapest 1996.
Gross, Julius: Kronstädter Drucke 1535–1886. Kronstadt 1886
Tontsch, Hermann: Die Honterus-Presse in 400 Jahren. Kronstadt 1933.