Medici Oriental Press

The Medici Oriental Press (also Typographia Medicea) was a press established by Ferdinand de Medici in the 16th century. This press produced some of the earliest books printed in Arabic. The press was active from 1584 to 1614.[1]

Evangelium Sanctum Domini Nostri Jesu Christi in Arabic, 1590, with Arabic types of Robert Granjon, Typographia Medicea, Rome.

The press initially benefited from the oriental manuscripts contributed by Ignatius Nemet Allah I, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, then in exile in Italy.[1]

The Medici Oriental Press published Christian religious works in oriental languages, such as the Gospels which were printed in Arabic in 1591,[2] with the objective of converting Muslims.[3]

The Press also produced scientific books in the original Arabic language, possibly for European scientist to gain direct access to Arabic works.[4][5]

The Press received from the Pope a monopoly to print books in "foreign languages".[6]

Robert Granjon of Paris (who also worked for the Typographia Vaticana) was employed to cut Oriental typefaces, and Giovan Battista Raimondi from Cremona was designated as the manager of the Press.[6]