Review article
Collections of Foreign Rare Books from the 16th Centuryin the Libraries of the Croatian Franciscan Province of Ss Cyril and Methodius. Franciscan Monastery in Slavonski Brod
Juraj Lokmer
orcid.org/0000-0001-6791-7938
; Croatian Franciscan Province of St. Cyril and Methodius, Zagreb, Croatia
Fila Bekavac-Lokmenr
; Croatian Franciscan Province of St. Cyril and Methodius, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Croatian Franciscan Province of Ss Cyril and Methodius science 2011 systematically itemizes holdings of its libraries in accordance to the international standards (ISBDM). 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 digital catalogue publicly open on the web-address http://193.198.235.162. Collection of foreign rare books from the sixteenth century in the library of the Franciscan monastery of Holy Trinity in Slavonski Brod does not hold many books in total, only 50 items/volumes with 53 titles. However, its content is quite interesting and kind of unique. This article reveals the catalog of the Collection itself, including the comments and necessary explanations regarding the most interesting titles and their authors. Besides books of liturgical character (Breuiarium argitense: Pars hyemalis from 1511, and Familiaris clericorum liber from 1561), the library keeps theological and philosophical literature (Duns Scot, N. de Plove, Thomas Hibernicus), basic legal-theological holdings (Concilium Tridentinum … Et denuo Librorum prohibitorum indice addito …), pastoral handbooks (G. Biel, G. Pepin), catechisms (Catechismus ex decreto Concilii Tridentini …), collections of sermons (F. Nausea, Hugo de Borgogonibus, C. Musso, G. Pepin, F. Diez, J. Osorio, O. Zarrabbini). There is also a separate segment that includes works of antique (Roman) literature, political studies, and speeches (M. T. Cicero, N. P. Ovid), which is supplemented by works of neo-Latin literature and philology (V. Rotmar, M. A. Muret, F. Priscianese Fiorentino). Moreover, one can find there also books from the Italian literature (L. Groto), and works of encyclopedic character (Plinii Secundi Naturalis historiae prima-tertia pars, J. Tixier de Ravis, P. Gregoire), as well as an edition of dictionari Dictionarium Ambrosii Calepini. Historical sciences are represented by several authors (Plinius Secundus, D. Dhytraeus, M. Dresseri). This collection specially is enriched by several books from the field of medicine (G. Falloppio, L. Fioravanti), and one pharmaceutical book (Herbolario volgare nel quale le virtu delle herbe & molti altri simplici …). Besides this, the collection includes mathematical textbook (Elementa geometriae ex Euclide singulari prudentia collecta a Ioanne Vogelin professore mathematico in schola Viennensi: Arithmeticae practicae per Georgium Peurbuchium Mathematicum). Legal literature is represented with only one, but quite unique, study, which is a product of several authors (S. Brant, I Locher, C. Tengler): U. Tengler, Der Neue Layenspiegel Von rechtmaessigen ordnungen in Burgerlichen vnd peinlichen Regimenten from 1512. This book contains very valuable graphical initials and 25 graphics, which were painted by German painter and illustrator Hans (Leonard) Schaeufelein. The field of ethics and pedagogy is represented with the study of D. Chaytraeus, evangelic pedagogue, educational reformer, and rector of the University of Rostock. It is important to note that this collection also contains many titles of Protestant literature, dealing with various questions of classical literature, history, pedagogy, and ethics (P. Melanchton, D. Lambin, J. Strum, J. Moltzer, D. Chyträus, M. Dresser, P. Sick). Majority of books from this collection was published on the Apennine peninsula, mostly in Venice. Some of the books (13) were published in the German speaking lands, and some (5) in France and one in Belgium. The language of these books mostly is Latin, but eight of them are written in Italian, and only one book was written in German. A small part of these books has graphical illustrations (initials, vignette, and xylographies). Book covers in this collection are of different age. The oldest bindings consist of wood coated in parched leather with floral ornaments (16th century), and are preserved only on several books. A certain specificity is a book clothed in parchment from some older multicolor Latin codex, which was – due to the frequent usage – time-worn and unreadable. Most of the volumes are bounded with metal buckles on the covers. Newer bindings (18th – 19th c.) have cardboard covers sometimes clothed in smooth, mostly cowhide, leather. Although many of the volumes from the collection are restored, there are still some that need urgent action regarding preservation. Most of the cataloged items contain clearly visible ex libris or other proprietary inscriptions. One of these contains information that the Slavonian Franciscans in the mid-eighteenth century were missionaries in Magdeburg (Germany). Most of the items from the Collection already have a bibliographical description with a digital image and a direct link to the digitized copy kept in some of the European libraries. In this way, users can easily browse these holdings in the library. This Collection of foreign rare books from the sixteenth century in the Library of the Franciscan monastery in Slavonski Brod clearly witnesses about the long-lasting spiritual and cultural tradition of the Croatian Franciscans from the town of Slavonski Brod.
Keywords
Foreign rare books; 16th century; Franciscan libraries; Croatian Franciscan Province of Ss Cyril and Methodius; Slavonski Brod.
Hrčak ID:
217693
URI
Publication date:
20.6.2018.
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