The „Polonicum”: definition, scope of materials, and use in Bibliography

Abstract

The article discusses selected issues related to the work on the national Polish retrospective bibliography. A short historical outline of the changes in understanding of the term “Polonicum” is presented (chiefl y, with respect to the fundamental bibliography of the Polish literature, i.e. the Bibliografia by K. Estreicher).

The author provides the defi nition of the term “Polonicum,” currently accepted in the Polish bibliographic practice, and the rules of selecting materials to be included in the national bibliography. While discussing individual criteria (territorial, national, thematic, and linguistic) H. Mieczkowska brings forth instances of writings from the period ranging from 16th to 18th century that demonstrate the diffi culties, which arise from applying the aforementioned rules in picking out the Polonica.