The Printer as a Politician, Editor, Scholar, and Publicist – Unusual Functions of Warsaw Imprimeries (18th Century)

The article, drawing from the author’s original research and the latest literature on the subject, elucidates the multifaceted roles of 18th-century Warsaw printing houses, surpassing the conventional understanding of their functions in contemporary discourse. The focal point is directed towards the Piarist publishing house, Mitzler’s Printing House, a prominent establishment founded during the War of the Polish Succession (1733–1735), aimed at maintaining the role the Wettin dynasty’s in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Piarist printing house, vested with the authority to publish official forms, additionally undertook editorial and publishing tasks for a comprehensive multi-volume collection of laws known as Volumina Legum. Material selection for this collection prioritized formal and legal validity, necessitating the Piarists to exhibit a deep understanding of Polish law. The editorial duties also compelled Mitzler de Kolof (1711–1778) to delve deeper into sources regarding the history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. However, the owner of the printing house utilized source editions to articulate journalistic viewpoints on the political and social structure of the country, as well as to devise a reform agenda influenced by Enlightenment ideas. Warsaw printing houses emerged as pivotal actors in mid-18th century endeavours to establish a informal system for disseminating information about newly published books, combined with a specific version of a mandatory copy.