Lithographic Printing in Afghanistan

Abstract:

Afghanistan was the last country in the region to join the movement of lithographic printing, doing so much later than the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, and Iran. The oldest known lithographically printed book in Afghanistan is titled Majmaʿ al-Baḥrayn, printed in Kabul in 1868 during the second reign of Amir Sher Ali Khan (r. 1868-1878). The Mustafāwī and Shams al-Nahār printing presses were among the first to publish books in Afghanistan, both established in Kabul.

The first individuals tasked with installing and operating these presses had prior experience working in the printing houses of the Indian subcontinent—or were originally from India and settled in Afghanistan at the invitation of Afghan officials. During the reign of ʻAbdur Raḥmān Khān (r. 1880-1901), new lithographic presses were also introduced in Kabul.

The establishment and operation of lithographic printing presses continued in subsequent periods, including under the rule of Amīr Ḥabībullāh Khān (r. 1901-19) and Amānullāh Khān (r. 1919–29). Lithographic presses were gradually set up in various cities such as Khūst, Jalalabad, Mazar-i Sharif, Kandahar, and Herat. In later years, private publishers also began establishing lithographic presses both within Afghanistan and abroad.

This study explores the development of lithographic printing presses in Afghanistan, the individuals involved in their establishment, and introduces some of the earliest printed examples and their distinctive features.

Bio:

Khalilullah Afzali is a specialist in Persian literature and manuscript culture. He currently serves as the Islamic Manuscripts Cataloging Librarian at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Library, where he catalogs and conducts research on Islamic manuscripts.

He is the founder director of the Baysunghur Research Institute in Afghanistan, dedicated to the study and preservation of the literary, cultural, and historical heritage of Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Iran.

Dr. Afzali’s research and teaching focus on codicology, Sufism, literary history, and Bidel studies. He has published three books and dozens of scholarly articles in Persian in both Iran and Afghanistan. With over a decade of experience in editing rare Persian manuscripts, he has made significant contributions to preserving and promoting Persian literary heritage.