The history of the Canons Regular of the Lateran Library in Mstów: books of the 16th century in the University of Warsaw Library

Abstract

Fragment of the book collection of the Canons Regular of the Lateran (CRL) in Mstów is stored in the University of Warsaw Library (UWL). This monastery was active since the 12^th century until its secularisation in 1819. In the result of that more than 1400 volumes from this library were transferred to then Public Library at the University of Warsaw, as well as the manuscript Cathalogus librorum Con[ven]tus n[ost]ri Mstoviensis O[rdinis] C[anonicorum] R[egularium] L[ateranensium] written in the year 1704, and listing 831 positions in approximately 900 volumes. In the result of misfortune (dispersion of the collection, transfer of the books, also to Russia, part of the volumes burnt by the Germans in 1944 after collapse of the Warsaw Rising) 178 works in 211 volumes have survived until today, of which 187 volumes in the UWL collection. The author presents provenances of preserved books of the 16^thcentury, concluding that most of them were donated: by the monks, authors, collectors. Most of the volumes (83 works in 126 volumes) were donated by Jan Strzembosz (approx. 1545-1606). The author announces continuation of studies on the CRL library in Mstów, referring to other sources in Poland and abroad (in Russia), and finalised with a monograph.