Socio-cultural context and communicative strategy of the first issue of the printers' trade union periodical ""Czcionka"" (1872)

This study investigates the socio-cultural context and communicative strategy of the first issue of the printers’ trade union periodical “Czcionka” (Lviv, 1872), one of the earliest professional publications in Eastern Galicia. The relevance of the research lies in its contribution to understanding the formation of professional press, labor communication, and collective identity among workers during the 19th century, a period marked by emerging self-organization, cultural consolidation, and the early stages of trade union activity. The problem addressed is the lack of comprehensive studies analyzing how “Czcionka” structured its content, combined different textual genres, and promoted solidarity, mutual aid, and professional identity among printers.

The aim of the study is to examine the editorial strategy, thematic organization, and genre composition of the periodical, highlighting the ways poetic, journalistic, and documentary texts fostered professional consciousness and collective cohesion. Methodologically, the research applies a combination of textual and content analysis, historical-contextual interpretation, and comparative evaluation with contemporary European trade union press. The analysis focuses on key sections of the periodical, including the opening poem “Na 1872 rok,” the “Societies’ Affairs Review,” “Cor­res­pon­dence,” “Printers’ World Chronicle,” and “Reports on Societies’ Activity.”

Findings reveal that “Czcionka” simultaneously functioned as a manifesto, informational bulletin, and communication platform, linking local Galician experiences with broader European labor trends. The opening poem set a symbolic tone of unity and diligence, while the review and correspondence sections demonstrated the editors’ efforts to foster horizontal communication and mutual support between printers from different cities. The chronicle and activity reports provided factual information on educational initiatives, professional organization, labor conditions, and solidarity practices, reflecting the early evolution of trade union journalism in Galicia.

Overall, “Czcionka” exemplifies how professional periodicals contributed to the formation of collective identity, social awareness, and cultural advancement among 19th-century workers. The study underscores the periodical’s dual role as both a cultural instrument and a practical tool for self-organization, highlighting its significance in the history of labor communication and early trade union press in Central-Eastern Europe.

Keywords: Czcionka, trade union press, printers, Eastern Galicia, 19th century, com­municative strategy, socio-cultural context, professional identity, labor movement, early journalism.

doi: 10.32403/0554-4866-2025-2-90-263-273