Tsiskari

Tsiskari, whose Georgian name ცისკარი means “Dawn,” was a Georgian-language literary and cultural magazine that appeared intermittently between 1852 and 1875. It occupies an important place in the history of Georgian publishing because it provided a printed venue for Georgian poetry, prose, historical writing, literary criticism, journalism, and translations during the nineteenth century. The periodical was founded in 1852 by the Georgian prince Giorgi Eristov with the support of Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov, the Caucasian governor. Vorontsov reportedly sought permission from Emperor Nicholas I for the publication and subscribed to 100 copies for female students at the St. Nina educational institution, which had been established by Vorontsov’s wife, Elizaveta Ksaveryevna. The magazine’s first phase lasted from 1852 to 1853. Eristov directed the publication, and its issues were printed at Patkanov’s printing house. A shortage of subscribers led to a suspension at the end of 1853, illustrating the limited and fragile commercial base available to Georgian-language periodicals at the time. Tsiskari resumed publication in 1857 under the direction of Ivan Kereselidze. That same year, printing was transferred to the Tsiskari printing house, giving the journal a closer relationship with a dedicated publishing operation. In 1870, production moved to Martirosyan’s printing house and later to the printing house of Ekvtime Kheladze. Tsiskari’s editorial and literary importance derived from the breadth of its contributors and the range of texts it made available. Contributors included Grigol Orbeliani, Vakhtang Orbeliani, Alexander Orbeliani, Platon Ioseliani, Dimitri Kipiani, and Mikhail Tumanov. The magazine also printed works by earlier Georgian authors such as Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, David Guramishvili, Alexander Chavchavadze, and Nikoloz Baratashvili, whose writings had previously circulated partly or primarily in manuscript form. By bringing such material into a periodical format, Tsiskari helped connect Georgian literary heritage with a growing print readership. The publication also served as a platform for nineteenth-century Georgian writers, including Daniel Chonkadze, Lavrenti Ardaziani, Anton Purtseladze, Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Giorgi Tsereteli, and Raphael Eristavi. Its translated material broadened the journal’s cultural scope, introducing Georgian readers to writers from Russian and European traditions. Published translations included works associated with Alexander Pushkin, Mikhail Lermontov, Nikolay Nekrasov, Vasily Zhukovsky, Ivan Turgenev, Lord Byron, Pierre-Jean de Béranger, Victor Hugo, and Charles Dickens. In addition to creative literature, Tsiskari carried historical, literary, and journalistic articles. Its intermittent publication and eventual end in 1875 mean that it is best understood as a historical periodical rather than an ongoing consumer brand. Nevertheless, the title represents a significant institution in Georgian literary culture and nineteenth-century Georgian print history. No current owner, website, operating company, or successor brand is identified in the available reference material.

Tsiskari was established in 1852 as a Georgian-language literary magazine by the Georgian prince Giorgi Eristov. Its launch received support from Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov, the Caucasian governor, who sought authorization from Nicholas I and arranged an initial subscription of 100 copies for female students at the St. Nina educational institution. This support gave the periodical an important institutional opening, although it did not resolve the broader difficulty of sustaining a Georgian-language publication through subscriptions. From 1852 through 1853, Eristov served as the magazine’s director. The periodical was printed at Patkanov’s printing house, but insufficient subscriber numbers caused publication to stop at the end of 1853. Tsiskari returned in 1857 under the direction of Ivan Kereselidze. The printing operation was moved that year to the Tsiskari printing house, marking a new phase in the magazine’s development. In 1870, printing shifted to Martirosyan’s printing house and later to the establishment operated by Ekvtime Kheladze. The magazine continued to appear intermittently until 1875. The journal’s contents combined literary creation with cultural preservation and translation. It published writing by prominent Georgian contributors, including Grigol Orbeliani, Vakhtang Orbeliani, Alexander Orbeliani, Platon Ioseliani, Dimitri Kipiani, and Mikhail Tumanov. It also printed works by earlier Georgian authors, including Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, David Guramishvili, Alexander Chavchavadze, and Nikoloz Baratashvili. Some of these works had previously been known through manuscript circulation, so their appearance in print helped widen access to Georgian literary heritage. Tsiskari was also associated with the development of nineteenth-century Georgian literary culture. Its pages featured authors such as Daniel Chonkadze, Lavrenti Ardaziani, Anton Purtseladze, Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Giorgi Tsereteli, and Raphael Eristavi. Alongside Georgian writing, the magazine published translations from Russian and European authors, including Pushkin, Lermontov, Nekrasov, Zhukovsky, Turgenev, Byron, Béranger, Hugo, and Dickens. Historical, literary-critical, and journalistic articles complemented the creative works. The available sources do not identify a modern corporate owner, successor publication, website, or continuing commercial operation. Tsiskari is therefore classified as a defunct historical publication brand whose importance rests on its contribution to Georgian-language print culture between the mid-1850s and the 1870s.

1. 1875Publication period ends

   The intermittent run of Tsiskari concludes.

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2. 1870Printing moves to Martirosyan’s establishment

   The magazine’s printing is transferred to Martirosyan’s printing house and later to Ekvtime Kheladze’s.

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3. 1857Publication resumes under Ivan Kereselidze

   Tsiskari returns with Ivan Kereselidze as director, and printing moves to the Tsiskari printing house.

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4. 1853First publication phase ends

   Publication is suspended at the end of the year because the magazine does not attract enough subscribers.

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5. 1852Tsiskari is founded

   Giorgi Eristov establishes the Georgian-language literary magazine with support from Caucasian governor Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov.

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6. 1852Initial printing begins

   The magazine is printed at Patkanov’s printing house under Eristov’s direction.

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A nineteenth-century Georgian literary and cultural periodical combining original Georgian writing, recovered classical works, translations, and historical or journalistic material.

• Tsiskari literary magazineLiterary magazine1852

  The core and only identified publication of the Tsiskari brand was a Georgian-language literary magazine issued intermittently from 1852 to 1875. Its contents included original poetry and prose, historical and literary articles, journalism, and translations. The journal published both established and emerging Georgian writers and helped move works that had circulated in manuscript into a broader print environment. It also introduced Georgian readers to selected Russian and European authors through translation.

1. Tsiskari