Lithuania 565

     In 1547 at Han Weinreich’s press in Königsberg Martynas Mažvydas (1510-1563) a Lutheran clergyman’s catechism was the first book in Lithuanian known to be printed. Of the approximately 200 copies that were printed only two are known to have survived, one in the Vilnius University Library, the other in the Torun University Library in Poland.
     In 1997 Lithuania issued a stamp with a picture of the cover of the book to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the publication of the book. The title on the cover reads in translation, “Simple Words of a Catechism, Instruction in Reading and Writing, and Hymns for Christendom and for Young Children Newly Put together in Königsberg on the eighth Day of the Month of January of the Year of the Birth of God 1547. Glory to God alone.”