[LEMKO NEWSPAPER]

Лемко. Газета на языцѣ, наближенном до лемковского говора. [i.e. Lemko. The newspaper in language, close to Lemko tongue] 6 issues. P.11,39,41,42,43,44 for 1912.
Лемко. Сатира, юмор, забава. [i.e Lemko. Satire, humor and entertainment]. 7 issues. P.11,40,39,41,42,43,44 for 1912.

Overall 13 issues. Nowy Sącz: v pechiatne I.Yakubovskogo, 1912. 29,5x21,5 cm.

Printed on a very fragile paper, the newspaper has some tears, but not losses to the text. The most affected by tears issues is p.39 (1912). Private stamps of Alexei Korba on some of the issues. Alexey A. Korba (1887-1969), who has lived for 40 years in Yonkers, New York. The first periodical, printed for Lemkos in Lemko region and around the world, in the Lemko language in Cyrillic script. Edited by Ilya Hoiniak.

Lemkos are the ethnic group, historically divided between the border regions of Ukraine, Slovakia, and Poland. Ukraine itself categorizes Lemkos as subdivided ethnic group of Ukrainians and not as a separate ethnicity, though such information is reflected mostly by Lemkos self-identification within Ukraine. In the Polish Census of 2011, 11,000 people declared Lemko nationality, of whom 6,000 declared only Lemko nationality, 4,000 declared double national identity - Lemko-Polish, and 1,000 declared Lemko identity together with a non-Polish identity.
Because of the geographical location of Lemko Region, it played an important role in many different military conflicts in XXth century, as well as in re-drawing the borders. This periodical gives us an insight into the pre-WWI atmosphere in the community. The advertisements include the information about Lemko credit uniton ('Ours for ours!'), the insurers and lawyers for the community, the advertisement for the postcards and the art by the editor-in-chief of the periodical, Ilya Hoiniak. Many business addresses are given in Lviv. The ties with USA were strong at the time - in every issue the list of US donors were printed with thanks - and reports of the life of diaspora in America have been regularly printed. Among some of the news, is the establishment of Lemko brotherhood 'Druzhestvo' in Yonkers, NY; the finding of the Lemko library in Pittsburgh; the news on the forming of balalayka orchestra with Lemko members in it.

The letters from the subscribers reveal strong anti-Ukrainan and anti-Polish sentiments among the readers as well as antisemitic passages. The humorous supplement includes the political caricatures, the riddles, the anecdotes and a short story.
All in all, a valuable document for understanding of Lemko culture around the time.