A rare collection of handwritten and early printed books from the 16th and 17th centuries is on display at an exhibition in Arkhangelsk, Russia, at the Gostiny Dvor. The exhibition, organized by the Arkhangelsk Regional History Museum, showcases 29 books, including a copy of Russia's first dated printed book, the "Apostol," which was published in 1564 by Ivan Fedorov.

Most of the exhibited books are of a religious nature, including several gospels. One noteworthy item is the "Gospel of Vasily Tyapinsky," printed between 1560 and 1580 in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Only two copies of this gospel are known to exist: one is held at the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg, and the other was discovered in 1876 at the Antoniev-Siysky Monastery in Arkhangelsk. This particular gospel is written in two columns, with one column featuring Church Slavonic text and the other in Old Belarusian. A third column provides interpretations of unfamiliar words and references to sources.

An exceptional addition to the exhibition is a fragment of a 17th-century handwritten book, "The Writings of Saint Patrick of Prussia," written on birch bark. Organizers of the exhibition noted that books from the 17th century written on birch bark are extremely rare due to the fragility of this material.

The exhibition not only presents books but also includes various objects that were part of the religious context during that period, such as wooden royal gates, ornate icon stands, candleholders, portable lanterns, ecclesiastical vestments, and icons. This unique display offers visitors a glimpse into the rich religious and cultural heritage of the region during the 16th and 17th centuries.