"Tallinn on the 17th-19th century illustrations” in the Rare Books Exhibition Hall

22.11.2011

The exhibition „What town is this ... Tallinn in the 17th-19th century illustrations” in the Rare Books Exhibition Hall of the National Library of Estonia.

The exhibition gives an overview of the images of Tallinn and symbols of the ancient Hanse city in the 17th-19th century publications.  In addition to the best known panorama views by Matthäus Merian Senior and Adam Olearius, the exhibition features the earliest known printed view of Tallinn – an engraving published in the travelogue by Anthonis Goeteeris (1619) 
The oldest Estonian-language book with the view of Tallinn is the first edition of the New Testament (1715) with an intricate woodcut title illustration.  Of earlier publications for local Germans, you can see frontispieces with a town view in the Tallinn hymnal (1706) and the first Tallinn reckoning book (1736).

The exhibition offers several unique copies, such as the calendar Tage-Büchlein (1670) delivered from Latvia, the title page of which is decorated by an early woodcut view of Tallinn. Eesti-Ma Kele Koddo-ning Kirko-Ramat (1728) from a private collection contains a copperplate frontispiece which has not survived on other editions in Estonia.

In the 19th century the depiction of Tallinn in publications expanded, encouraged by the introduction of  modern lithographic technique. The first Tallinn travel guide came out in 1833. The earlier town maps originate from 1856. The historic symbols of Tallinn – the large and small coats of arms, as illustrative elements, were used in statute books, calendars, geographic maps, and document forms.

Both the furnishing and equipment of the Rare Books Exhibition Hall have undergone a complete renovation.

The exhibition is complemented by  historical films from 1937 and 1939 about old Tallinn produced by the Estonian Culture Film Studio. The Rare Books Exhibition Hall was renovated and the exhibition prepared with the support of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. By this exhibition the National Library contributes to the completion of the intensive programme of Tallinn as the European Capital of Culture 2011.
The exhibition will run until 31 March 2012.
More information:
Ruth Hiie and Urve Sildre, old and rare books specialists, Collections Maintenance Department of the National Library, tel 630 7304.
Annika Koppel, Public Relations Department of the National Library, tel 630 7260.