Incunabula in the collection of the Cistercians Abbey Library in Szczyrzyc. An introduction

Abstract

The article presents briefly the collection of incunabula (77 bibliographical positions in 51 volumes) of the Cistercians Abbey Library in Szczyrzyc, established in the first half of the 13^th century. After critical review of literature concerning this collection, the author describes the following: the oldest and the rarest printings, the Polonica; publishers and authors; provenances and marginalia; books ornamentation and binding. Concluding she states: “extraordinary interesting and rich collection of the books from the 15^th century from the Cistercians Abbey in Szczyrzyc, fairy well preserved, is a testimony of intellectual work of the generations who created them”. These volumes were used by the monks not only from the Szczyrzyc monastery. Their usage, as well as “spiritual and intellectual status” of the users, are revealed by notes and other traces left on books margins and bindings, which were “donated, passed or purchased in different ways”. The author announces also her publication of the catalogue of incunabula of the Cistercians Abbey Library in Szczyrzyc, as well as a brief history of this library.