Review article
COLLECTIONS OF RARE BOOK FROM THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY IN THE LIBRARIES OF THE CROATIAN FRANCISCAN PROVINCE OF SS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS: FRANCISCAN MONASTERY IN VIROVITICA
Juraj LOKMER – Fila BEKAVAC LOKMER
Abstract
Croatian Franciscan Province of Ss. Cyril and Methodius since 2011 systematically itemizes holdings of its libraries. The focus of this catalogue is on the most precious holdings and modern standardization through usage of informatics and communication technologies. With such an approach the processed material is available in publicly open digital catalogue on the address http://193.198.235.162. Collection of old books from the sixteenth
century (1519 - 1600) in the library of the Franciscan monastery in Virovitica does not hold many books (exactly 14 items and 15 titles). However, its content is quite interesting and kind of unique. This article reveals catalog of the Collection itself, including the
comments and necessary explanations regarding the most interesting titles. Besides three Bibles and commentaries of St. Paul (Theophylacte de Bulgaria) one can find there some philosophical and theological materials (St. Augustine), together with manuals for pastoral work (Honorius Augustodunenis, Joan Osorio). Holdings of historical character are especially valuable (Titus Livius, Victorin Striegl), as well as Latin-German and GermanLatin dictionary written by well-known German (Swiss) humanist Petrus Dasypodius.
Moreover, as a kind of rarity there is kept a classical medical study of eminent German (Swiss) humanist, scientist and reformation theologian Conradus Gessner, together with two mathematical surveys written by Euclid. Furthermore, one can find there two studies
written by Erasmus of Rotterdam about literature and education. All the books are written in Latin, and majority of them were published in Cologne, or in some other German speaking cities like Basel, Zürich and Dillingen. On the other hand, the rest of the kept books
are published in Venice, Paris or Belgium. Book covers and graphics inside of these books are not representative. However, the Bible from the beginning of the sixteenth century contains several images and more than a few interesting graphically decorated initials (xylographs)
that can be evaluated as average of contemporary European printing industry. Book covers differ by age; the older covers consist of wood coated in parched leather with floral ornaments (16th century) and only three books are equipped in this manner, while some books have remains of metal buckles and covers that belonged to some older manuscripts. On the other hand, the newer books (18th century and later) have cardboard book covers coated in smooth cowhide lather, together with floral geometrical ornaments. Most of the books contain ex libris inscriptions (B. Krčelić) or some other written dedications. Some of the items from the Collection already have a bibliographical description with direct link to the digitized copy kept in some of the European libraries. This Collection of foreign books from the sixteenth century in the Library of the Franciscan monastery in Virovitica clearly witness about long lasting spiritual and cultural tradition of the Croatian and Slavonian Franciscans from Virovitica.
Keywords
Foreign books; 16th century; Franciscan libraries; Croatian Franciscan Province of Ss Cyril and Methodius; Virovitica
Hrčak ID:
151856
URI
Publication date:
18.12.2015.
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