Librairie Orientale Samuelian’s collection auctioned in Paris

The legendary collection from Librairie Orientale Samuelian, comprising 300 Armenian books and manuscripts from various periods, was sold at an auction in Paris. The Mesrop Mashtots Scientific Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts had expressed readiness to acquire the entire collection, but efforts in that direction were ultimately unsuccessful.

Founded in 1930 by Hrant Samuelian and closed in 2016, Librairie Orientale Samuelian was the oldest Armenian bookstore in the world and one of the cultural centers of the Armenian Diaspora.