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Vol. 88 (1997): Our Past

Articles

Erwin Redel, Przeworsk antiquarian and his penetration of monastery libraries in 1871-1876. A contribution to the history of "book catching" in Galicia

  • Janusz Nowak
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52204/np.1997.88.329-353  [Google Scholar]
Published: 1997-12-30

Abstract

The Czartoryski Library in Puławy suffered serious losses after 1831, mainly as a result of part of the collection being taken to Russia and constant relocations of the collection. As part of standard methods of expanding library resources, such as purchasing new items and copies from second-hand bookshops, exchanging doubles, donations, other forms of expanding book collections were also used. In the years 1871-1876, Erwin Redel, an antiquarian from Przeworsk, worked for the Czartoryski Library in Sieniawa - although informally - a worthy successor to proven "book hunters" from the early 19th century, such as Tadeusz Czacki, Samuel B. Linde and Hieronim Juszyński. Erwin Redel conducted numerous library expeditions to Galician monasteries: Bernardines in Kalwaria, Kraków, Leżajsk, Przeworsk and Sokal, Carmelites in Kraków and Lviv, Cistercians in Mogila, Dominicans in Lviv and Podkamień, as well as smaller Franciscan monasteries and parish libraries. Władysław Czartoryski, the owner of the library in Sieniawa and Kraków (since 1876), never approved the expansion of his library at the expense of church collections, much less Redel's activities. Despite this, Redel used the prince's name to gain easier access to the monastery libraries. He also took advantage of the monks' naivety, ignorance and underestimation of historical collections. Although he paid for the acquired works, he operated on the verge of legality. The fruits of his work were enjoyed by W. Czartoryski, his son Adam Ludwik and grandson Augustyn until 1939. The latter returned the manuscripts to the Cistercian Library in Mogila. However, the inclusion of the collections purchased by Redel in the inventory of the Sieniawa Majolat, established in 1897, and the outbreak of World War II meant that they remained in the Czartoryski Library.

References

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