A Debreceni Nyomda 1847. évi kiváltságlevele

Abstract

Since its founding in 1561, the City Press has been enhancing the reputation of Debrecen. It used to be managed by the city council, the rulers did not interfere in its affairs until 1835. At that time, the Governor's Council forcefully demanded that it present their royal patent. However, the Debrecen Press - similarly to the other printing houses in Hungary - did not have a separate patent. Nevertheless, in order to suppress civil aspirations, the government wanted to abolish printing presses that operated without a royal permission. The city fathers of Debrecen argued in vain that Leopold I confirmed the use of the printing press when he elevated Debrecen to the rank of free royal city, King Ferdinand rejected their request. There was no other solution, the issue of the privilege letter had to be requested. The charter of the Debrecen Book Printing Institute was announced on August 12, 1847. Due to the amount paid for it, the printing house closed that year with a significant loss. The present study not only follows the struggle to obtain the privilege letter, but also provides relevant archival resources, including the correspondence of the Debrecen City Council and the Council of Governors between 1835 and 1847.