Belarusian philanthropists fund acquisition of rare 17th-century book

August 27, Pozirk. The MALDZIS initiative has announced the purchase of the French-language edition of Kazimir Semianovič’s Artis Magnae Artilleriae Pars Prima (The Great Art of Artillery, Part One).

The book, printed in 1651, was purchased at auction with funds donated by Belarusian philanthropists, including economist Pavieł Danejka, businessman Ivan Šyła and several others who wished to remain anonymous.

Pavieł Macukievič, a former diplomat who leads an initiative named after the late Belarusian scholar Adam Maldzis, described the book as a landmark manual for artillerymen and pyrotechnics in 17th-century Europe.

The book will be displayed at thematic events and is to be donated to a history museum in Viciebsk once the political situation in the country changes.

Earlier, the initiative acquired one of the first editions of Jan Nieprecki’s map of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, along with several other historical artifacts.