Polonica in the book collection of Jakub Henryk Flemming

Abstract

The author analyses the book collection of Jakub Henryk Flemming (1667-1728) – a trusted advisor of the Saxon king of Poland Augustus II the Strong – referring to the manuscript “Catahalogus Bibliothecae Flemmingae” from the beginning of the 18^th century, maintained in the University Library in Warsaw. The “Flemming Library”, after death of his owner, was dispersed – a large part of it was moved to the Radziwiłł Library in Nieśwież. After the first partition of Poland in 1772 it was exported to Petersburg in Russia, along with the whole Radziwiłł of Nieśwież Library, where it was divided among different libraries. In this situation the “Catahalogus…”, signed with the Radziwiłł of Nieśwież family coat of arms and ex libris, became a basis of identification and description of the Polonica from J.H. Flemming’s collection. The catalogue includes descriptions of 2310 books in a dozen of subject sections. The Polonica (works published in Poland, written by Polish authors, in Polish language or concerning Poland) identified by the author in this catalogue were limited to 100 and a few books, mostly of historical and theological content, and the only one in Polish language. The author states therefore, that Flemming was unable to get adequate knowledge about Polish cultural and research output through his books.