Hristo G. Danov

Hristo G. Danov was a Bulgarian teacher, writer and founder of the organized book publishing in Bulgaria. He was born on August 27, 1828 in the town of Klisura (South Bulgaria, Plovdiv district). He studied in Panagyurishte, and later in Koprivshtitsa, as his teachers were Naiden Gerov and Yoakim Gruev. He worked as a teacher. He founded the classroom school and the community center in Klisura. In 1857, along with the teacher Yacho Truvchev and the bookbinder Nyagul Boyadjiiski he established Druzhestvena knigoveznitsa (Association Bindery). Gradually the company grew into book-store and publishing house. In 1862 it was renamed to Publishing House Hr. G. Danov and Co, and Yoakim Gruev joined it as partner. They established offices in Rousse, Veles, Sofia and Lom. From 1878 he started publishing the first common Bulgarian newspaper titled Maritsa. Hristo Danov is the author and publisher of charts, ABC books and textbooks. He was a member of the Bulgarian Learned Society in 1881, and in 1900 he became a honorary member. In 1882 he was elected Member of Parliament in the District Parliament of Eastern Romalia. From February 1, 1897 until July 2, 1899 he was a mayor of the city of Plovdiv, as for his work Danov refused to be given salary. During his mandate the first structural development plan of the city was elaborated. Hristo G. Danov died on December 11, 1911 and was buried in the church St. Holy Mother. Today the Danov’s house in the Old town in Plovdiv, and there is a special exhibition arranged showing the development of the Bulgarian book publishing.