I climbed the tree with the man,
A plate of almonds.
He has no tongue, no mouth,
Hey talking to the man.
Yes, we are talking about a book in this riddle that we have memorized since childhood. One of those books where a tongue is a tongue for a mute, an eye for an eye, and a strength for a powerless person. A person who does not read is like a tree without water. A good book is a good friend. It is something that benefits a person gratuitously. There are many good things to say about the book. But our goal is not to dedicate this article to a book, but to present to you the conversation we had with a lady who devoted her whole life to books.
For years, he has been engaged in a work that has no analogues in Azerbaijan – collecting mini-books, gathering them in a large museum and exhibiting them for both the local population and tourists. A lot can be said about his work, but since we were visitors to that museum and had a conversation with that person, let’s present to you what he himself said. Thus, our interviewee is Zarifa Salahova, Honored Culture Worker, Founder of Miniature Book Museum. We present his interview to Publika.az:
– Ms. Zarifa, how did you come up with the idea of a miniature book?
– You can see John Kennedy’s book in my collection. (shows his miniature book on one of the shelves with his hand) after his death, a miniature book was published about him in the Netherlands. I thought of this book. I was inspired and thought that I should take out Heydar Aliyev’s speech at the swearing-in ceremony. When I wanted to publish the book, the situation was very difficult. There was neither paper nor funds in Azerbaijan. There was no place to print. It was already the end of 1994. I heard that Alik Nisanov, a former employee of the printing house of the Society of Book Lovers, is returning to Baku to start a business. I asked him to help me. I delivered a miniature book for Heydar Aliyev. In that book was his oath. Alik advised me to go to Moscow. After I went to Moscow, I printed the book in two languages, in Russian and English.
– How old is the collection?
– I have always been interested in miniature publishing. I have been collecting miniature manuscripts, facsimiles, reprints and unique publications for over 40 years. I collected those copies from 65 countries of the world. This is approximately the number of countries I have visited.
– Did you have a passion for books since childhood?
– My brothers studied in school number 6. There used to be a library at the bus stop opposite Azneft Circle. One day when Tahir came home from school, he entered that library. So he went there several times a week to change the book he was reading. One day, the woman who worked there told Tahira to read this book, draw pictures and decorations according to the text. Tahir started to draw decorations in this book, gradually this number became 3, 5, 10. It so happened that this woman held an exhibition. Then he advised Tahir to go and learn the profession of painting. All these are the work and writing of God. I also read the books he brought home. I have always been interested in books.
– Mrs. Zarifa, are the visitors mainly tourists or our own citizens?
– Entrance to the museum is free. We also have a magazine. We take notes there every day. Most of the visitors are tourists. For example, in 2019, 12,765 Azerbaijanis and 70,698 foreign citizens arrived. The number of visitors to the country is not small because of this museum alone. In all cases, the visitors to the museum are mostly tourists. Even during the pandemic, most of the visitors to the museum were tourists. Representatives from the US embassy came here. I asked them, how did the Americans know that there is such a museum in Azerbaijan? They laughed and said that in America, Azerbaijan is known for three things – oil, caviar and the Museum of Miniature Books..
– In which countries have you held exhibitions?
– I had exhibitions in France, Singapore, Moscow, Australia, London and other countries. I have also represented my country several times at the International Book Fair held in Russia.
– How many books are in the collection now?
– Currently there are more than 5800 books. 3,600 of them are in the Guinness Book of Records.The rarest examples in the collection are 4 microbooks published by “Toppan” publishing house of Tokyo, Japan. The size of one of them is 0.75×0.75, and three are 2×2 mm. The book consists of 16 pages and 4 chapters. Their skin is made of sheepskin. The book, which appears to the naked eye as a dot, has its own magnifying glass for reading. Most of the books here are more than 100 years old. The oldest book in the museum is a copy of the Holy Quran published in Saudi Arabia in 1672.
There are also microbooks produced by German publishers. One is 2.0×2.9 mm (Leipzig) and three are 3.5×3.5 mm (Munich) books. “Evgeny Onegin” and “Captain’s Daughter” published during ASPushkin’s lifetime, “Taman”, “Treasurer”, “Stranger in Love” (Kiev) published by M. Lermontov in 1892-1894, I. Krylov “Complete collection of representations with illustrations ” (Kharkov, 1894) books. The 4-volume 0.8×0.9 mm edition of “Yevgeny Onegin”, A. Akhmatova, P. Bazhov, I. Bunin, D. Byron, S. Yesenin and M. Lermontov, published by “Levsha” publishing house, stands out for its special originality. Also, the museum’s Nakhchivan and in the cultural centers of big cities like Ganja, miniature books are exhibited. I have already selected 523 miniature books for Shusha. I want to open a museum there as well.
– How did you get into the “Guinness Book of Records”?
– It was completely accidental.So, I read a lot of newspapers published in Moscow. One day I read that a man in India grew his mustache by 5 meters and got into the “Guinness Book of Records”. A woman in America grew her nails 6 meters long and she was also included in this book. I thought they were crazy. I quickly picked up the phone and called. At that time, Mikayil Jabbarova, the head of the “Icherisheher” State Historical-Architectural Reserve Department. Thank you, he helped me and directed the employees. That employee was English. His name is Kevin. He came to the museum, we wrote the letter and sent it. After some time, the reply came that there are many shipments, it will be processed when it is your turn. It so happened that the answer came the next morning. We were also interested. Their standards were written in the letter. According to the standard, the miniature book was 0.75 cm. Therefore, 2014 2913 books entered the “Guinness Book of Records”. We did not have any difficulties in this process. I have always said, and I will say, if this museum was owned by Armenians, the whole world would know it. But Azerbaijanis don’t even know about the first museum in the world, which is in the “Guinness Book of Records”. The museum itself is in such a convenient and easy place that you are here in 3 minutes from the subway. Our people know 3 places very well: market, restaurant, shop.
– Ms. Zarifa, along with books, you were also interested in sports. You played sports in your youth. How did you get interested in sports?
– I loved basketball. There were many Russians and Armenians in the team. There was an Azerbaijani, and that was me. I was number 5 and left-handed. I played very well. Even when I was walking around the city, boys looked at me, said “number 5” and pointed at me. He knew me almost all over town.
– Mrs. Zarifa, as far as I can see, you are also engaged in the sale of miniature books. Are there any buyers?
– That’s right, there were 7 different books. Two are already finished. That’s 5 left. We mainly sell children’s literature. The price is 1 manat. We have selected children’s books to be interesting for both children and adults. In America, miniature books are also sold, but they are bigger than a finger.
– Ms. Zarifa, you had a meeting with Great Leader Heydar Aliyev. How did you meet for the first time?
– In 1993, after the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev was elected President for the first time, I also participated in his swearing-in ceremony. The swearing-in ceremony was held on October 10 in the Heydar Aliyev Palace. Heydar Aliyev stood straight for 1 hour and 10 minutes and delivered his program speech. After the event, I said to myself, how can a person stand up and give a speech for such a long time? After the inauguration, I thought I should have this speech printed in a miniature book. I had the book published in Moscow in two languages, Russian and English. The event was held in the National Library. I also held the presentation of this book there.
Heydar Aliyev also participated in that event. In my speech, I told Heydar Aliyev that I want to open a Miniature Book Museum if they give me a place or a building. I will also donate the books to my country and city. In his speech, Heydar Aliyev touched upon my speech twice. Later, Heydar Aliyev looked at the books. Alishir Niyazov’s book “Farhad and Shirin” is interesting to the President. He asked where it was printed? I said them all one by one. As soon as I finished my thought, I asked the following question: Heydar Aliyev, did you like it? And he said yes. I said, I forgive you. Heydar Aliyev did not like to take anything from anyone. But he took this book. I gave him 3 books at the exhibition.
– Did you want the museum to be in the Old City?
– A few months after that event, I sent a letter to the Executive Power asking them to give me a place in the Old City, but there was no answer: the chief architect Elbay Gasimzade kept the current location of the museum for himself. At that time, we could not start the construction. Because we had no money. The museum is located next to the Italian embassy, Heydar Aliyev was also present at the opening of the embassy. Elbay wanted to find out whether this place was really given to me on the instructions of Heydar Aliyev or not. He told the President that he wants Zarifa Salahova to open a shop or a restaurant here. Heydar Aliyev cut him off, looked at him sternly, and loudly said, “There will be a museum, a museum here.” The conversation ended right there. Heydar Aliyev was well aware of the future of these books. The first book I published for Heydar Aliyev was “Contract of the Century”. It also has an interesting history.
– What is its history, Mrs. Zarifa?
– Along with the book “Contract of the Century”, there is also a medal I gave as a gift to Heydar Aliyev on the occasion of his 75th birthday. By the way, let me say that the author of the gold medal made in “Monetniy dvor” in Moscow is Ivan Kopitkin. Heydar Aliyev received me on his 75th birthday. Years later, his secretary Dilara told me that I have been working with Heydar Aliyev for 10 years. He didn’t accept senior officials, he accepted you. You are the only person who came halfway to his room and welcomed you and sent you away. I still remember, when he greeted me, I said to Heydar Aliyev, “May I kiss you?” Then I kissed him. We started talking about the book. At the end of the book, there was a biography of Heydar Aliyev and a list of oil companies with which the document was signed. There was also a medal in the book. Regarding the medal, Heydar Aliyev said that Mrs. Zarifa, it is the first time I see that I look like myself on the medal. 25 years have passed since this meeting. Today, I am publishing a miniature book on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev. Heydar Aliyev’s speech was in “Bakinski Rabochi” newspaper. I will leave the material there in a miniature form in the book. It is already in print. Things are going on.
– Does the opening of the museum on April 23 have a special meaning?
– Yes I have. On April 23, 1616, the classics of world literature – the brilliant writers William Shakespeare and Miguel Cervantes – died on the same day. According to the decision of UNESCO, April 23 is celebrated as the International Book and Copyright Day every year, in this way their names are immortalized. That’s why I chose this day. Even the chairman of the executive committee of the International Union of Book Lovers S. Shuvalov sent me a letter on this occasion.
The letter read:
“I congratulate you on the occasion of the opening of the “Book House” on April 23 “World Book” Day, a great event. Finally, your dream came true, Zarifa. I am happy with you.”
