Digital Material | Ioannite printers’ marks in Venice from the 17th to 19th centuries

Nikolaos Glykys was born in Ioannina in 1619 and is considered one of the most important Greek printers. In 1671, he founded his printing house in Venice and acquired exclusive rights to publish a series of major Greek titles. His house would go on to publish ecclesiastical, scientific, and literary tomes – 106 in total.

The printer’s mark of Nikolaos Glykys is a bee that is always framed by the Greek initials Ν and Γλ, drawn from his name: Ν(ικόλαος) Γλ(υκύς). It is a particularly distinct printer’s/publisher’s mark that he selected himself to act as the signature of his works. The mark first appears in his "Horologium" dating to 1670. The bee would go on to accompany the output of his printing house right through until the sixth decade of the 19th century, in a variety of graphic forms and design variations, establishing itself as a singular signature symbol in the European printing scene.

Source: Κωνσταντίνος Σπ. Στάικος [Konstantinos S. Staikos], «Εκδοτικά Τυπογραφικά Σήματα Βιβλίων του Ελληνικού Κόσμου (1494–1821)» ["Printers’ and Publishers’ Marks in Books of the Greek World (1494–1821)"], ATHENS: Εκδόσεις ΑΤΩΝ [ATON Books], 2009, p. 101, fig. 194

Nikolaos Sarros (or Saros) was a Greek nobleman and scholar, a printer and publisher originally from Epirus. He settled in Venice in the mid-17th century and, in 1688, founded his own printing house, which soon garnered great renown. Sarros died in 1697 but his publishing practice was continued for a time by his family, and later –from 1706 onwards– by the Italian printer Antonio Vortoli. The printing house of Sarros published 212 books in total, though the books printed in his name number at least 315.

The printer’s mark of Nikolaos Sarros is a mermaid-siren whose body ends in two tails which she holds in her hands; meanwhile, to the right and left are inscribed his initials [in either Latin or Greek letters]: N.S. / Ν.Σ. This mark appears in many design variations. After the death of Sarros, the mark continued to be used by Antonio Vortoli, even after the latter had fulfilled his contractual obligations to the former’s heirs.

Source: Κωνσταντίνος Σπ. Στάικος [Konstantinos S. Staikos], «Εκδοτικά Τυπογραφικά Σήματα Βιβλίων του Ελληνικού Κόσμου (1494–1821)» ["Printers’ and Publishers’ Marks in Books of the Greek World (1494–1821)"], ATHENS: Εκδόσεις ΑΤΩΝ [ATON Books], 2009, p. 122

Dimitris Theodosiou, originally from Ioannina, settled in Venice at the age of 22 and worked in the printing house of Nikolaos Glykys for eight years. In 1755, he founded his own printing house and published his first book. He died in 1782 and his printing house was then run by his nephew Panos Theodosiou until 1824. Around 420 Greek titles were published by the printing house over its 69 years of operation. To these must be added 80 Slavic and 19 Armenian publications.

The printer’s mark of Dimitris Theodosiou was the double-headed eagle with crown –the emblem of the Byzantine Empire– clutching the symbols of power in its claws. Below the eagle are inscribed the Greek initials Δ.Θ., to become Π.Θ. when the printing house was taken over by his nephew, Panos Theodosiou.

Source: Κωνσταντίνος Σπ. Στάικος [Konstantinos S. Staikos], «Εκδοτικά Τυπογραφικά Σήματα Βιβλίων του Ελληνικού Κόσμου (1494–1821)» ["Printers’ and Publishers’ Marks in Books of the Greek World (1494–1821)"], ATHENS: Εκδόσεις ΑΤΩΝ [ATON Books], 2009, p. 166

Andreas Ioulianos was a printer –originally, it is rumored, from Ioannina– who lived in Venice in the early-17th century. He took charge of the printing house his family had already founded some time earlier. Between 1582 and 1690, the Ioulianos house was to publish some 199 titles. Andreas Ioulianos was the rival of Nikolaos Glykys and the pair would clash over the production of Greek books in Venice.

The printer’s mark of Andreas Ioulianos depicts a sphere sliced into two hemispheres by a horizontal line. The northern segment is inscribed with an eagle that has its wings outstretched, while the southern segment shows an outstretched arm holding a vase with lotus flowers (lilies).

Source: Κωνσταντίνος Σπ. Στάικος [Konstantinos S. Staikos], «Εκδοτικά Τυπογραφικά Σήματα Βιβλίων του Ελληνικού Κόσμου (1494–1821)» ["Printers’ and Publishers’ Marks in Books of the Greek World (1494–1821)"], ATHENS: Εκδόσεις ΑΤΩΝ [ATON Books], 2009, p. 82