International Conference ‘Footprints of the Early Modern Book Trade: Transnational Mobility between the Low Countries an

On 25–27 November 2024, the National Library of Latvia is organizing an international conference ‘Footprints of the Early Modern Book Trade: Transnational Mobility between the Low Countries and the Baltic Sea Region’. The goal of the conference is to discuss the dynamics of social and geographical mobility reflected by the Early Modern book trade, printing equipment, and printed works, as well as the cross-border movement of knowledge, skills, and traditions. The influence of printers, booksellers, and libraries will be explored, uncovering the diverse voices and perspectives that shaped books in the Early Modern period.

Taking place in Riga, the 3-day program will gather international book historians, library and museum professionals to explore topics specifically focused on the Baltic Sea Region and the Low Countries, highlighting the historical ties between these areas. A world-renowned cultural historian of the Early Modern period, Dr. Andrew Pettegree of the University of St. Andrews, will deliver a keynote lecture titled ‘Book History’s New Frontier and the Perils of Big Data’. International experts Kristof Selleslach (BE), Patrick Goossens (BE), Pierre Desaerdt (BE), Kaspar Kolk (EST), Sophie Turner (EST), Artis Ērglis (LV), Beāte Orlova (LV), Ieva Ose (LV), Viesturs Zanders (LV), Gita Drungilienė (LT), Ina Kažuro (LT), Milda Kvizikevičiūtė (LT), Sigitas Narbutas (LT), Peter Nieuwenhuizen (NL), Monika Opalinska (POL), and Peter Sjokvist (SWE) will present their findings. The conference program will be complemented by an introduction to the Special Collections of the National Library of Latvia, hands-on workshops with the replica of a 16th-century printing press, and guided tours of the exhibitions at the National Library of Latvia, offering a range of perspectives on books in the Early Modern period.

Registration for the conference is now open.

The theme of the conference is inspired by the narrative of Riga’s first printer, Nicolaus Mollyn (Niclaes Mollijns): he was born into the family of an Antwerp printer and wood-engraver, began his career as an apprentice at Christophe Plantin’s printing office in 1573, and started working as an independent printer in Riga in 1588, where he introduced the long-awaited printing press to Livonia.

The conference is organized by the National Library of Latvia in partnership with the University of Antwerp and Museum Plantin-Moretus. It is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and endorsed by the Consortium of European Research Libraries. It will be part of the anniversary program celebrating 500 Years of Latvian Books. Proceedings of the conference are planned to be published.