Abgaryan, G. V. Matenadaran, 1962. In Armenian.

Գևորգ Աբգարյան.
Մատենադարան:
Երևան: Հայպետհրատ, 1962.
86 էջ : [18 թերթ մանրանկ.], լուսանկ. ; 22 սմ: Կոշտ կազմ:
***
Gevorg Abgaryan.
Matenadaran.
Yerevan: Haypethrat, 1962.
86 pp. : [18 leaves of miniatures], photos ; 22 cm. Hardcover.

This significant 1962 volume by Gevorg Abgaryan serves as a masterful introduction to the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, known as the Matenadaran, one of the world's most vital repositories of medieval heritage. The text provides a deep dive into the internal logic of the Armenian manuscript tradition, including the arrangement of the collection’s historical evolution, the preservation of ancient texts, and the unique artistic schools of illumination. Published in Yerevan by "Haypethrat" (State Publishing House of Armenia), this work documents the Matenadaran shortly after its move to its iconic monumental building, capturing a pivotal moment in the institutional history of Armenian scholarship and national identity.
A defining feature of this edition is the inclusion of 18 leaves of miniatures and high-quality photographs, which serve as vital primary sources for the study of medieval Armenian art. These reproductions showcase the vibrant pigments and intricate details of canonical works from the Cilician school to the Vaspurakan style, providing a visual guide to the spiritual and cultural depth of the manuscripts. Abgaryan’s narrative guides the reader through the treasury of historical chronicles, philosophical treatises, and theological texts that have survived centuries of upheaval. For bibliophiles, art historians, and collectors of Caucasian studies, this 1962 hardcover edition remains a cornerstone reference, preserving the legacy of the Armenian scriptorial tradition in a scholarly and aesthetically rich presentation.