The first book in the Albanian language, “Meshari” (“The Missal”) by Gjon Buzuku, was published. The only copy that survives today was found in 1740 in the Vatican, Italy. “Meshari” (“The Missal”) is written with the Latin alphabet, but five special letters are also used for Albanian sounds that the Latin lacks. “Meshari” (“The Missal”) consisted of 110 sheets (220 pages), of which 94 sheets (188 pages) remain, including the front page. The importance of the work lies in its linguistic, historical-literary value as well as in the tradition it created. The work remains a great linguistic and literary monument of the earliest period of writing in our language. (In the photo: “Meshari” (“The Missal”) by Gjon Buzuku.)
Text: Robert Elsie, History of Albanian literature, “Dukagjini”, Pejë, 2001, pages 35-36.
Photo: © National Library of Albania
Graphic processing: AHCF
