Armenian Book Order Form 1896 Ottoman Empire Era Armenia

Armenian Book Order Form (1896)

Description:

An original Armenian-language document dated 1896, functioning as a book order form. The document is entirely written and printed in Armenian. Beneath the title appears a section corresponding to “Where and to whom to send,” written in Armenian; however, the handwritten name next to this section is not clearly legible, and the recipient cannot be identified with certainty.

During the Ottoman era, non-Muslim subjects were generally not permitted to operate licensed bookshops or officially work as booksellers. Due to religious restrictions particularly regarding the handling of Islamic texts, Christian communities developed alternative methods to obtain books. These included order forms such as this one, church-based subscription systems, and intermediaries who were trusted Christian merchants in their local communities. In many cities, well-known Armenian shopkeepers from unrelated trades acted as intermediaries, arranging book orders on behalf of individuals or institutions.

This document provides rare insight into the circulation of books within Armenian communities in the late Ottoman period and illustrates the informal yet organized networks created to overcome legal and religious limitations. It represents a meaningful and collectible piece of Ottoman Armenian cultural and intellectual history.

Key Features:

• Type: Armenian-language book order document

• Date: 1896

• Language: Armenian

• Function: Book ordering and delivery instruction form

• Recipient Name: Handwritten name present but not legible

• Historical Context: Restricted bookselling practices for non-Muslims in the Ottoman Empire

• Cultural Significance: Evidence of Armenian book circulation methods

• Collectibility: Scarce ephemera for Armenian history collectors

• Condition: Period document with age-related wear