History and Archives Institute (Moscow)

 university, Gothic revival (architecture), interesting place, 16th century construction, object of cultural heritage of federal importance (Russia)

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The former printed court yard, organised in 1563 for Ivan Fedorov's printing house.

This was the location of Russia's first printing house. On its original gates were the lion and the unicorn of the printing yard's coat of arms (still present in the herald above the portal). Two sundials and a variety of floral and other decorations almost entirely cover the street front. Built in the beginning of the 19th century, it now houses the Institute for History and Archives of the Russian State University for the Humanities.

Ivan the Terrible brought the first printing press to Russia in 1553. Legend has it he came daily to supervise the printing of the first book, Acts of the Apostles. It took Ivan Fyodorov and his assistant an entire year to set the type for the book, which was completed on March 1, 1564. Here, too, in December 1702 was printed the first Russian newspaper, Vedomosti. The state monopoly on publishing continued until 1783 when some private publishing was permitted with great reluctance, although the state continued to exercise complete control through censorship. Some reforms occurred in 1861, but it was not until 1905 that greater freedom of the press was granted. In the courtyard, behind the heavy black gate, stands the dilapidated Correction Chamber (proofreading room), erected in 1679 and partially restored in 1874.

Photo: Grażyna Wiącek