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Johann Haller or Jan Haller (1463 - 1525) is considered to be one of the first commercial printers in Poland.
Born in in Rothenburg, Haller is perhaps best known for publishing poems of Theophylact Simocatta in 1509 which had been translated from Greek by Nicolaus Copernicus. At the time, there was no printing press available in Copernicus' neighborhood in Lidzbark (Heilsberg), Frombork (Frauenburg), nor in Toruń (Thorn), therefore Copernicus' translation could have been printed only in Breslau (Wrocław), Cracow, or further abroad. Copernicus, who had studied in Cracow, opted for Johann Haller, who together with Kasper Hochfeld had already published the first illustrated work in Poland, Jan Łaski's Statues in 1506, and one of 25 works of Laurentius Corvinus in 1508. Corvinus had lectured at the Cracow Academy while Nicolaus Copernicus studied there, and they were well acquainted. Corvinus took on a job at Thorn, but in June 1509 travelled to the printer Haller in Cracow, bringing with him the manuscript entrusted to him by Copernicus. Corvinus (Rabe) added a poem and Copernicus wrote a dedication inside for his uncle, the Prince-Bishop Lucas Watzenrode. Haller published it before the end of 1509.
After his studies at the Cracow Academy Haller had become a merchant in wine, copper and tin, thus enabling himself to engage, at a later time, in the production of printing elements and finally establishing a printing press in Cracow. His first printing products were almanacs, followed by the Breviary for the clergy. Haller was able to acquire a partial monopoly on them thereby protecting himself from the competition. Haller soon expanded his business to include scientific books such as writings on astronomy, mathematics, philosophy and law as well as the publishing of royal and church statutes.
Haller manufactured altogether around 3,530 prints. His masterpieces are illustrated books containing 354 sheets of woodcuts.
References
- Norman Davies, God's Playground: A History of Poland : in Two Volumes, pg. 118
- Template:Pl icon Epoka publishers,The History of printing till 18th century. First Polish prints. Opole, 2007.
- ^ There was no printing press in Lidzbark, in Frombork, nor in Toruń. The nearest printer shop was in Danzig but only a few works in German were published there. Copernicus' translation had to be printed in Breslau (Wroclaw), Cracow, or abroad. It was opted for the Cracow printer, Johann Haller, who had already published in 1508 one of the 25 works of Corvinus. In June 1509, Corvinus left Thorun bringing with him the manuscript of Copernicus. Johann Haller published it before the end of 1509. - Oliver Thill, Pierre Gassendi The Life of Copernicus (1473-1543)
- Norman Davies, God's Playground, vol.1, chapter 5. "The first work printed in Cracow, a Latin almanac, was produced by Piotr Straube in 1473. In 1491, Swejbold Vehl printed the first ever book in Cyrillic, an Oktoich hymnal, and was fined by an inquisitorial court for his pains. Johann Haller, another Franconian, and Kasper Hochfeld, had the distinction of publishing Poland's first illustrated work, Jan Laski's legal 'Statutes', in 1506. "
- Communicating Europe to the Region: Breslau in the Age of the Renaissance Lambrecht, German History, 2002 (pdf file)