Chapter 15 From Leipzig to Damascus
Wetzstein as a Broker of Arabic Prints in Syria
In: Manuscripts, Politics and Oriental StudiesSearch for other papers by Boris Liebrenz in
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Abstract
Wetzstein’s dealings with books during his tenure as consul in Damascus (1849–1863) are dominated by manuscripts which he bought in large quantities and sold to several collections in Germany. But he also attempted to promote the transmission of printed books in the other direction at the instigation of his academic teacher, Heinrich Leberecht Fleischer. His trading activity can shed light on the consul’s self-image and self-representation, as well as on the cultural networks that he managed to maintain in Damascus and the region. It also reveals some of the obstacles that the products of European academia in particular and printed books in general could face in late Ottoman Syria, which was still largely dominated by manuscripts. The failure of Wetzstein’s attempts will be viewed within the context of the early reception and production of printed books in the region.