UNIRSM News At the roots of the press to discover the history and memory of the Titan community and its institutions

At the roots of the press to discover the history and memory of the Titan community and its institutions

University of San Marino and State Library together for an exhibition in which unique books are displayed

A selection of ancient books which on the one hand refers to the activities dedicated to knowledge carried out on Titan several centuries ago, and on the other to one of the most prestigious collections kept by the University of San Marino. This is at the center of the exhibition "Between history and memory - incunabula in San Marino", but not only. In fact, visitors will find a series of infographics developed to tell some details about the spread of printing in Europe after its invention and about the characteristics of the first books ever produced, the possibility of reading in-depth articles in Italian and English, or listening to them on audio supports. As a soundtrack, music from the 1400s and 1500s alternates with characteristic sounds of machinery that contributed to the creation of texts and volumes.

The space, set up by the Design degree course of the University of the Republic of San Marino on the two floors of the San Francesco Pinacoteca Museum, in the historic center, is also characterized by the presence, among the display cases that house the books, of a series of vertical fabric panels that appear as large pages reproducing notes, signs and notes written in ink in the original volumes by those who, hundreds of years ago, used the texts for study, professional or other purposes.

“Precisely this aspect – explains Claudia Malpeli from the State Library – gives some specimens the status of symbols and witnesses of the cultural activities that took place in San Marino among the most cultured people. Let's think, for example, of legal texts, used for work, on which the annotations of those who wanted to highlight some parts are still present. These details today restore something whose use, purpose and life can still be perceived."

The selection on display involves 32 incunabula, a term used to indicate the first printed products created up to 1500. There is also a manuscript, a volume from the XNUMXth and one from the XNUMXth century.

“Most come from the original nucleus of the State Library, which has its roots in the first half of the 1800th century,” specifies Malpeli. Twelve texts instead belong to the Young Fund, a collection acquired by the University of San Marino in 1991 at the instigation of Umberto Eco and focused on mnemonics, i.e. on methods for memorizing detailed information quickly and effectively, relying on tricks and stratagems.

“The exhibition was designed to be accessible to everyone, from the simply curious to the more expert, up to professionals”, specifies Claudia Gattei of the University of San Marino. “It accompanies guests on a journey that offers on the one hand real gems represented by unique volumes, on the other a journey into the world of printing and its origins. A video offers additional and interesting content, but there is more. Through QR codes you can connect, with your mobile phone, to web pages where there is extra information and in some cases the full, digitized versions of the Young Fund books. Visitors can thus decide, among other things, whether to absorb everything during the visit or postpone any further information until later."

The result was possible thanks to the collaboration expressed by the University of San Marino together with the State Library, which involved experts, graphic designers, translators and more, including Usmaradio, the University's broadcaster: "These are two institutions that worked in tandem to give the unprecedented opportunity to admire volumes usually kept under lock and key, they are so delicate and precious."

The exhibition, curated by the librarians Malpeli and Gattei, will remain open until 8 September, with a probable extension until early October. It can be visited every day from 9am to 30pm. Free entry.